Panera Brings Jobs, Drive-Thru to Johns Creek

Does your daily commute take you to the intersection of State Bridge and Medlock Bridge roads? Panera hopes to make your drive a little more pleasant.

Bright and early at 6 this morning, a newly built Panera Bread opened at 5958 State Bridge Road.

What's so special about this one? It's the first in the Atlanta area with drive-through service.

"A lot of commuters don't want to disembark," owner Scott Harris said.

Harris says that the drive-through is not the only feature that makes this location special, though. The location ultimately plans to hire some 80 employees. "We're excited to see people excited about coming to work," he added.

Harris built his franchise on property acquired from the shopping center's Home Depot. Like other locations, it features freshly baked goods, organic and all-natural ingredients and antibiotic-free chicken, catering and free Wi-Fi.

The company prides itself on getting involved in the local community by partnering with charities. This location will join forces with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Atlanta chapter by giving back through Panera's Operation Dough-Nation program, created in 1992 to cement its nationwide commitment to community involvement. Panera also donates all unsold bread and baked goods to local hunger-relief agencies at the end of each day.

Panera, 5958 State Bridge Road, is open Monday to Friday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. For more information, call 770-476-5584, or visit www.panerabread.com or www.paneracatering.com.

The company operates 1,467 locations in North America, with locations in 40 states and Canada.