The owners of Panera Bread franchisee Traditional Bakery Inc. last week purchased the former Carlos O'Kelly's and plan to build a multitenant retail development with Panera Bread as anchor tenant.
Under JGTS LLC, Traditional Bakery owners Jim and Gaynell Magers and Dr. Tom and Sue Stees bought the 4100 S. Campbell Ave. property for an undisclosed amount, said TBI President Brian Camey. Formerly owned by Net Lease Funding 2005 LP/U.S. Restaurant Properties Inc., the site had been home to Mexican restaurant Carlos O'Kelly's for about 20 years until it closed in
March.
JGTS plans to demolish the vacant restaurant and build an 8,000-square-foot center on the property, 5,000 square feet of which would be dedicated to a TBI Panera Bread franchise. Camey said the owners hope to begin construction within the next several months and have the property open by the middle of third-quarter 2015. The extra 3,000 square feet would be available for a couple of additional tenants, he said.
The Panera franchise would replace TBI's current 3837 S. Campbell Ave. location, which it has operated since 1999, and add an another 10-15 jobs. It also would be TBI's second drive-thru Panera in Springfield, a recent emphasis by the company.
"Panera Bread, across the country and our franchise included, is making a very high focus on adding drive-thru service wherever we can," Camey said.
He said the drive-thru service - added in December - at its 1570 E. Battlefield Road Panera Bread eatery has been well received.
