New Panera Bread
 

The Gourmet Club is reporting that Panera Bread Bakery & Cafe will open a second location in Lake Sumter Landing. That's good news to us.

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I had heard this about a month ago and was told they would be going into The Veranda restaurant. Now according to the Gourmet Club web site that is correct.

LSL Panera
 

Gourmet Club says in the Sales Center. Everyone has been hoping it would replace Johnny Rockets. (Need to get rid of that place!)

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Parking
 

Speaking of parking, how do you like the parking situation for Cody's, R.J. Gators, Urban Flats, Airport Shuttle, Waterfront Inn and Barnes & Noble now that Friday's stuck their nose in the fracas? Good planning, heh?

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Parking
 

Maybe they should use that other lot they're clearing near the new Medical building foradditional parking. That would sure help.I agree Johnie Rockets would be a good spot for Panerra Bread. Veranda's a pretty decent place to loose.

Suggestion
 

I don't know how far it will go, but I put on my survey that a shuttle service from the remote parking lots at both Squares would be good (much like the one they operate for the hospital). Seems to me like they could offset the cost (if that's a concern) by getting the merchants to weigh in on it. It couldn't possibly hurt their businesses. Not just the restaurants would benefit....so would the other retailers, movies, etc.

I got my neighbor to put it on hers, too.

That's a great idea about the shuttle! And I am thrilled about Panera. We love Panera. I haven't been overly impressed by the Veranda, so this is great news!

I like the muffins and keish and almost any breakfast at Veranda. I hope it stays. Another "vote" for Johnny Rockets location. Not that we get a vote. :mornincoffee:

This is great news.... Panera is one of my favorites for lunch. The bad news is that it may not be in place til 2011 or 2012, according to the Gourmet Club website.

I would think that the Veranda would stay so The Villages can have a Breakfast place for the Life Style Preview people.

Currenty the only places that The Villages offer the free deals to the Preview folks are owned by The Villages. Veranda, Palmer, Cane Garden and Light House. I would be surprised if the didn't offer breakfast or if they would pay for folks to eat at a place they don't own. That would open a new can of worms. They used to do that sometime ago but stopped when they stopped giving Villages dollars.

There is an empty slot where Jane's Outpost used to be. Don't know if there is enough room? Janes outpost was across from the restrooms by the lake between The Lighthouse and the restrooms.

we go to Cody's, TGIF and RJ Gators regularly and have never had a problem parking no matter what time we go there, and actually I'm glad that Friday's stuck their nose in (didn't realize there was a fracas going on) because they have excellent food at decent prices and the fact that new restaraunts want to come here is good for everyone...gn

Gee, what is wrong with Johnny Rockets?

Last year we ran into our sales rep and sat chatting with her for a while. She did tell us that at some point in the not to distant future that the LSL sales center would be relocating to south of 466A, perhaps Brownwood. I had asked her about The Veranda and she did not know but this does not surprise me. Developer owns it and probably only wanted it as a tie to the sales activity. Maybe there are other plans for the next sales center.

Two thumbs up for panera
 

to wherever they show up at LSL. One of our favourites.

What's "keish"?

Short for
 

Its short for "keishter".

I LOVE The Veranda, SO sad to hear it is closing:(:(:(

We agree. The veranda is a great "Villages unique". When we cuss and discuss our days of two lifestyle previews it always includes great thoughts of starting off each morning for breakfast at the Veranda. Too many carbs at Panera for a diabetic villager......

Yes, breakfast is good at Veranda, but the bacon majorly sucks. Limp and greasy and skinny. Johnny Rockets? Yeah, I could do without that place.

Ooops, did I say keish? :yuck: I meant quiche. :icon_hungry:

I also hate to see the Veranda close.

p.s. What's keish?

Not to worry P. C'est le meme chose.

Agree. We enjoyed their breakfast when we were on our preview visit.

It's too bad to see a unique place like the Veranda close. We do like Panera, but they are everywhere and far from unique anymore.

A sign of the times....

Not everywhere! We are 75 miles from the closest one!!! We love them and stop when ever we see one since it is a rare treat for us.

Army Guy

but....but.....but....
 

There's a Panera's in Spanish Springs.

I think keish = quiche

Yes, and when we are down for the weekends we try to go at least once a month. But here in "fly-over" country there are a very rare treat,as is Hooters, Johnny Rockets, TGIFriday's, Denny's, etc. Those of you near big cities do not realize how lucky you are! To eat at any of those it is either, 110 miles to Atlanta or 75 miles to Birmingham.
As I have said in other threads it is really interesting getting others perspective on things from other parts of the country.

Army Guy

Very disappointed. :cry: We love the Verandah for breakfast and occasionally lunch. Anyone know when they will close?

Glad to see one opening on this side of town.

I agree. We LOVE The Veranda. It's just a cute, quaint, little place to go. Their food was always good and I LOVED the ambiance. I took friends from Del Webb there for lunch one day and they just fell in love with it. They, in turn, have each brought more friends over from Dell Webb and Stonecrest and commented on how lucky we were to have such a place. Panera Bread couldn't you find someplace else to move to and leave our Veranda the way it is????

But remember, the Veranda is a TV Sales/Marketing tool, they have to have it where it meets its designed purpose.

Army Guy

Hi AG, not sure what you mean.

The Veranda is a TV sales/marketing tool, but I didn't think Pandera would be. I figured Veranda was no longer profitable (enough) as a marketing outlet, so TV was just closing it and letting an independent franchise move in.

Are you thinking that TV will own the Pandera in LSL and operate it for marketing purposes? Or did I misunderstand your point?

From what I have read and been told, the Veranda which is owned by TV is the most used "perk" of the LSVs. So they are basically moving it's location as the marketing has pushed more South with the impending move of the Sales Office. A lot of the TV offices have already started to move south. If you look at the office complex built across from Colony Plaza, TV Home Warrenty, and others have already moved.

Army Guy

Oh, I had not heard that Veranda would re-open further south. I hope so.

Let's face it, Pandera has good food but all the charm and comfortable seating of any other hurry-up-and-eat-and-get-the-heck-out-so-we-can-serve-the-next-customer box. Don't get me wrong. I actually like Pandera. I go there sometimes in Atlanta. I wouldn't go there at SS or LSL (except with friends who wanted to) for two reasons. One, why would I go there when I could go to Toojays, a similar but far superior family-owned chain? Second, I know I'm in the vast minority, but it wouldn't break my heart if national franchises weren't event permitted in the squares. Instead, I would love to see more charming locally owned shops and restaurants like Veranda.

Please don't pounce. There's just no need to fret about my personal preference. Thankfully for everyone, it's not up to me.

ok, I am going to pounce....just kidding. I agree with you, my take is if the food is good, I will go. Doesn't matter if it is a chain or family owned. The only thing I do like about chains is, you bascially know what you are going to get in taste, quality, etc.
We love Toojays also!
But just like you saw in SS, most of the TV owned stuff & offices will move south.
By the way, we are headed down to TV Wednesday night so we will wave when going through Hotlanta!

Army Guy

:wave: Waving back! Have a safe and fun trip and hope you don't get stuck in a Hotlanta traffic jam.

I already know we will, right where I-675 and I-75 South merge. It usually costs us about 20 minutes. But we still get to TV about 1130 PM , and that is with stopping in Valdosta for dinner.

Army Guy