Seven Houston-area Panera Bread bakery-cafés that abruptly went dark during a franchisee collapse last summer are expected to flip the lights back on under new ownership this summer, with the first reopenings targeted for July. The comeback stretches from Spring to Katy and restores a familiar option for morning coffee and lunch that many neighborhoods have been missing for months. Local workers who lost shifts when the doors closed could soon be back on the schedule.
In a statement to Fast Company, Hamra Enterprises CEO Mike Hamra said, “Hamra plans to open seven Panera Bread bakery-cafes in Texas, beginning with Spring and Katy in July 2026, creating around 280 jobs.” According to Fast Company, Hamra purchased the seven restaurants in a November 2025 bankruptcy sale, and the locations will continue operating under the Panera banner. The company told the outlet it will bring each café up to brand standards before reopening to the public…