Panera in the Highlands??

This is terrible news. It will add to the "suburban 70's chain nastiness" that virtually destroys the area around Grinstead and Bardstown. Many of my friends visiting from the north ie Chicago love the area but find the power lines and ugly fast food restaurants unappealing. Wendy's and Arby's are two terrible culprits, and now this. That said, I doubt any indie small local could ever afford that rent if Ear-X-Tacy could not. This would have been a PERFECT spot for clothing retail. Yes, I would have preferred a local like a larger Dot Fox or something, but this is exactly the kind of spot that Urban Outfitters looks for. Recently, a group of Notre Dame students wrote a bunch of letters to Urban Outfitter and now they are locating in tiny South Bend, IN, which has honestly about the demographics of West Louisville except for 8,000 Notre Dame students. It is sad to see Ear-X-Tacy replaced by Pantera bread and should be a warning to all people here that you absolutely cannot support any mundane chains. Yes, Urban Outfitters is a chain, but none of the local clothing stores like Cherry Blossom etc can match their selection and this is one of many chains that are considered to be staples for any major city. A different topic, but why doesnt Louisville have any major national clothing retailers?

I expect that Panera will do real well in that location.

Panera = bland, to me. Think about Panera. Think about Blue Dog. Or Lotsa Pasta bread, or even the Lexington Bluegrass Bakery bread sold at Party Source. Compare to Panera and report back. The problem with Panera isn't explicitly that it's a chain, it's the mass-produced product.

Personally, I think it's particularly irritating that they essentially lie about it, hyping their bread as "fresh-baked" but failing to mention that the "fresh-baked" loaves are made and parbaked days earlier at a central commissary in St. Louis, from which they're delivered to Louisville stores by truck.

Yeah, it's good to have a business in the Ear X-Tacy space. But I feel the same way about Panera as I do about having a Starbucks on Bardstown Road: Why homogenize one of our most characterful strips? Do we really want to see the Highlands turn into Anytown USA?

I in no way suggested that I care for Panera - I don't eat there. My only point was that I expect that location will be a busy one for them. They seem to do well with a younger crowd too.

Robin - you are preaching to the choir in regards to the food.

[Robin Garr]

Robin - you are preaching to the choir in regards to the food.

Understood, Mark. And I in turn am ranting even though I know it won't do any good ...

I can name a lot of locals I'd love to see there: Blue Dog, Lotsa Pasta, one of the fine cuban eateries, Comfy Cow or Graeter's, another Papalino's. That being said, a Panera doesn't sadden me. If it's going to be a chain, I'm happy with them. They're a family fave, especially when we're on the road.

Like I said in the original post, I do sometimes eat at Panera...I am not anti-chain, but in that beautiful building, it saddens me. One thing I really don't understand is the parking, or lack of it. I am surprised Panera was excited with that location given the small amount of parking. And I am surprised they got approved by the city. Why didn't they look at the old Blockbuster location at Taylorsville & Bardstown? I do agree that I don't want an empty building. And interesting that someone mentioned Urban Outfitters...I heard they inquired, but the rent was too high.
Jess

Qdoba occupies prime teritory on the corner of Eastern Parkway and Bardstown. In other words, this would not be the first franchise in that general facility. That said, I prefer, like everyone else, to see a local vendor of some type. However, Panera is tolerable. The sad fact in all of this is the cold reality, at least according to the unofficial consensus, that only a franchise could afford to locate there. Is this a trend that will eventually engulf our treasured corridor? Probably not. But this may be the tip of an iceburg. I sure hope not.

If the rent is more than a local, independent can afford, then there's a disconnect between what people want the area to be and what is feasible in the area.

Panera, Qboba, Jimmy John's, Walgreens, a few banks, etc. We can just make it look like Norton Commons or a strip mall.
I wish it was Yan Kee Noodle myself then I have no reason to go to the mall.