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Panera Bread To Open

Posted Mar 15, 2007 by Clarisa Gerlach

Updated Mar 15, 2007 at 11:13 AM

The small-town feel of Plant City, nestled in an area of high growth and growth potential, is behind the planned April 11 opening of a Panera Bread bakery and café on James L. Redman Parkway.

“Panera wanted to come to Plant City because it’s an untapped market,” said Diana Sukup, marketing coordinator for Panera’s Tampa market. “That’s one place that there isn’t too much yet. But that’s how Valrico was before we put a Panera out there. Ever since we opened there that community has been up and growing even more and we see the same future for Plant City.”

Openings for about 65 employees, from hourly associates to management positions, are currently being filled, with applications being accepted at 2909 James Redman Parkway, near the intersection of Charlie Griffin Road, between Chili’s and Lowe’s.

Positions also are being accepted online at www.panera-tampa.com and at the company’s executive offices, 4200 West Cypress St., Suite 650, Tampa.

“Now that the area is booming, Plant City has become more of a hub,” said special projects manager Karen Aschcraft. “If you want to get out in the country, you go to Plant City. And it’s a hop, skip and a jump to the big city.”

Aschcraft helps open new stores for Covelli Enterprises, the franchise company for the 24 Panera Bakery establishments in Orlando and the 19 locations in Tampa .

Aschcraft was on site during construction Wednesday, noting that the Plant City location, like the newly reopened Panera in the Westfield Brandon shopping mall, will sport the company’s newest design.

Diners will notice “brighter colors, and a more open” format, Aschcraft said. “And the ambiance in the bakery is huge, with solid window glass, versus poles in between (the sections of) the bakery glass. It’s a newer, fresher look.”

Aschcraft said she has helped open 16 Paneras, including the Plant City location that will share strip mall space with Great Clips, Alltel Wireless and Sassi Nail Bar & Spa. The newly opened shopping center, between a Shell gasoline station and an AmSouth Bank, is still in the process of leasing space.

“The colors in the older cafes are more older colors, with tans, oranges, yellows and maroon,” Sukup said. “Whereas with the (new design), we have oranges and blues and greens and purple and red. It’s just got a more modern feel to it.”

To celebrate its Plant City opening, Sukup said the first 200 customers each day, from April 11-14, will receive a free three-cheese demi, a loaf of bread in the shape of a baguette, only half the length.

Plant City’s Panera Bread will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Sunday’s hours will be from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
For hiring information, call: 877-7533.

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New Farm Bureau Field Rep In District

Posted Jan 17, 2007 by Loren Omoto

Updated Jan 17, 2007 at 09:21 AM

PLANT CITY - J.R. Pierce has joined the field services division of the Florida Farm Bureau Federation as a field representative. His district will be Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Lake, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk and Sumter counties.

The Farm Buureau employs eight such district field representatives who serve as staff liaisons between the state organization and county farm bureaus.

Pierce has a bachelor’s degree in agriculture operations management from the University of Florida. He grew up in South Florida and lives in Plant City.

- Barbara Kent

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Carrabba’s Italian Grill Open

Posted Nov 15, 2006 by Loren Omoto

Updated Mar 15, 2007 at 11:39 AM

By Dave Nicholson
The Tampa Tribune

PLANT CITY - Diners will have another local choice in restaurants starting next week.

Carrabba’s Italian Grill opens its first Plant City location at 4 p.m. Monday. A “generous portion’ of the first night’s sales will go to the Florida Strawberry Research and Education Foundation, a company statement said.

The new eatery is at 1205 Townsgate Court, next to a sister restaurant, Outback Steakhouse. The restaurant is on the east side of Thonotosassa Road, just south of Interstate 4.

The I-4/Thonotosassa Road interchange has been growing for years, and now includes Applebees, Sonny’s, Waffle House and a shopping center anchored by Publix.

Carrabba’s took over a tall sign along the interstate that once advertised BuddyFreddys, which is also near the interchange. The sign was battered by the 2004 hurricane season and Carrabba’s refurbished and illuminated it.

There are 217 restaurants with the Carrabba’s name.
The Plant City location will be open 4 to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 4 to 11 p.m. Friday, 3 to 11 p.m. Saturday and 3 to 10 p.m. Sunday. Alfredo Porto is the managing partner in Plant City.

Previously, fans of Carrabba’s had to drive to Brandon or Lakeland.

Carrabba’s Italian Grill was founded in Houston by Johnny Carrabba and Damian Mandola in December 1986, according to the corporate Web site. Photos of Carrabba family relatives adorn the walls.

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