Panera and The Veranda
 

Has anyone noticed whether Panera has started to take over the Veranda as yet? Sure hope they retain some of the special feel it has/had? LB &LB

I feel sure they won't. Most national chains have a certain look that they repeat time and time again.

Some are decorated exactly the same in every restaurant. The Max and Erma chain of restaurants all have the exact decor in every one of their restaurants including the same photograph of a huge brewery worker family picnic taken in Columbus, Ohio in 1938. I know this because my dad and mother, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins are all in it.

AND I have tried in vain to get a copy of that photograph.

Now I have hijacked yet another thread.

Am I the only one ???
 

Maybe I'm in the minority, but I was not that impressed with the Veranda; especially the food. So I'm glad Panera's is opening a restaurant in LSL, even if it is displacing the Veranda.

Just my opinion ... :shrug:

I'm with you, Mike. I had lunch there maybe three times and always thought the food was just so-so. Service was fine and ambiance was special. But not the food. I've always liked panera and look forward to their arrival.

Perhaps a number of folks have sentimental attachment to veranda because of patronizing it during their lifestyle preview visit.

I always agree with 07 and Memason.

I think the food is not so great anywhere in TV. I wonder why that is ? (There are exceptions and we know where they are and we frequent them)

Do all of the good cooks who do it for money still live outside of The Villages?

We need immigration from young people who know how to cook and want to cook here in The Villages.

Maybe they don't pay them enough? The prices are low in most restaurants. hmmm.

Not necessarily so! McDonalds wanted to put a restaurant in a section of our town and the residents got up in arms. McD finally took over an existing location and just put up their golden arches out in the parking lot. Not nearly as large as most locations either. Actually, if you didn't know there was a McD there, you'd probably pass right on by it.

Today's Daily Sun
 

In the construction update section:

Panera Bread (1010 Lake Sumter Landing): Design plans and permitting are pending on the new bakery and cafe that Covelli Family L.P., a Panera Bread franchisee, intends to open in the first quarter of next year.

I had Breakfast at the Veranda yesterday and the lady that waited on me said that Sunday (tomarrow) is the last day that they will be open.

There were many hugs and some tears as many people were there to eat for the last time and say goodbye to the people who had served them Breakfast for several years.

I ate there frequently for Breakfast and always enjoyed it. This will cause a problem for us Breakfast eaters in the area South of 466 as there are not many places for Breakfast in the Lake Sumter Landing area other than Too Jays and Havana which I don't happen to care for either for Breakfast. Looks like I will be heading to the Southern Trace area for Breakfast but it is a longer golf cart ride from The Village of Poinciana. I will be taking the car to Southern Trace.

I know Panera is very good but I prefer a more traditional Breakfast.

Or because of GEORGE!

Long story.

Guess I don't know about GEORGE (sounds, interesting though) but what I liked about Veranda, and some other places in TV, ibut noticeably Veranda (probably because they only served breakfast and lunch, and I think we 60 (or almost) and over wind down earlier) is that some of the servers are over that "certain age." Gave me hope.

If I ever decide, or need, to get a part-time job, I always thought I'd be a great server (or short order cook), although I've been told (during this packing/moving period) that I apparently have lost my ability to "multi-task."

Do any of the rest of you notice that the servers in your home-town are all like 30 or under? Did you notice I used the word "like"? I'm really trying to "get with it."

I liked the Veranda. The food was always fine and the ambiance was excellent. Getting another cold cookie cutter chain is a step down in my mind. Panero's doesn't appeal to me at all.

As for the food in the Villages, it's no better or worse than anywhere else in the country. If you don't like it there's a real simple solution.

You're right about their good traditional breakfasts. I guess I should have eaten there more often. Oh well, nothing is forever.

Careful there, your generation gap is showing.

LOL

Hey PT,

I remember George!
Doesn't somebody have a picture?

:girlneener:

G

Yes, and you're in it!

Can anyone guess which one is George? U U is excused from the test, because she has a note from home.

http://i801.photobucket.com/albums/y...GEORGEGwen.jpg

Thank you,
Judy's Mother

Oh God George....I forgot all about him....Thanks for the laugh!!!

I agree with you GracieGirl! What's with this? and why are they almost all chain restaurants? Maybe the Morse's should start a Culinary School. :D

I was not impressed with the Veranda's food -- it was o.k. just nothing special (ate there twice - we have only been in TV twice, 3rd time will be when we close on our house) and I like Panera but the Veranda had such a great location I wish a more interesting and healthy restaurant was going in there.

One more thing -- my husband and I were quite surprised that with all the healthy, active people there were so few "really" healthy, fresh food restaurants -- or did we not find them????

I think 'they' heard you. This is from The Villages Charter High School home page:

Our students appreciate the intense learning atmosphere. Setting high expectations for students and staff alike is an important key to the success The Villages High School enjoys. In the junior and senior years, the students are afforded the opportunity to study in one of six (6) academies including the Health Sciences Academy, the Entrepreneurship Academy (Culinary Arts and Communication Technology-Graphic Arts), the Engineering Academy, the Communication Academy (TV Production and Journalism), Fine Arts (Art, Dance and Music) and the Advanced Studies Academy. Through our Advanced Studies Academy, students may qualify for dual enrollment courses and earn up to 29 college semester hours here on our campus in Math, Science and English. Additionally, our goal in the immediate future is to work closely with Lake Sumter Community College to add additional Dual Enrollment programs to increase the number of semester hours our students may earn.

:popcorn:

I'm from the st. Louis, Mo. area. Interesting story: the original bread company was called St.Louis Bread Co. which the owners sold to Au Bon Pan in NY. They later bought it back and when they went international they changed the name to Panera. Love all of their items. Enjoy.

Wayne

Wayne.... the first Panera's I ever visited was in St. Louis and it was the St. Louis Bread Co.... downtown...

For all your Chicago folks out there...how about the best breakfast in the world at Lou Mitchell's on Jackson St. ...just one block from Union Station....

Wish I had bought Panera's stock when it took over St Louis bread CO. It was $5.00 a share. It has since--split many many times. My gut told me to buy it but w/o 5 years history I held back.

3 threads in one!
 

Three distinct points being raised here...

Veranda leaving, Panera coming in.

Veranda's food not recommend by many; ambience and quaintness obviously not enough or it would be staying open; it's all about ROI.
People like Panera (even though its a dreaded chain!)

Lack of good restaurants in T.V.

Let's face it we live in a time and in a location where value is desired over quality. There is a great amount of pressure on price / performance in restaurants these days; here and elsewhere...just look at the ads and the specials. With this much pressure on prices, its hard to keep the quality real high....cheaper ingredients being used .. hard to lure top chefs.

Chains vs. local
The eternal tug of war. Chains can provide more value..economy of scale in ordering supplies, menu development, etc. It's obivious that chains do better in T.V just look at the Golden Corall, Olive Garden, etc. parking lots. We've got to remember the our Country Clubs are "local" and most are rated highly; quality and value.
_

I was told that the Veranda officially closed for good today at 3:00 PM. Sorry to see it go. Some of the employees who didn't live in TV had children enrolled at the Charter School. If they don't find employment elsewhere in TV they will be required to remove their children from the school. I know this must be a stressful time for those employees. Hopefully something will come their way.

I would hope those affected can finish the school year. If the school requires them to leave sooner my opinion of the school will take a nose dive. I guess if some are hired by Panera they will be able to continue at the school.

That is very sad about their kids. I hope 1. that TV helps them find another job in TV and 2.) that there is some grace period (at least a year since this was a Villages owned business) before they have to pull their children out of the charter school.

I would hate to see any kids negatively affected. Does anyone know how this works?

Yup!
 

ahhhhhh.... great memories! I have to admit, sometimes I miss that beautiful city. :thumbup:

So do I Chels, lately been thinking alot about Chicago. Wish I could find a reason to have to go back for a visit. (I know I dont need a reason) but so little time and I prefer to spend it in The Villages. We must keep our priorities straight!

MeMason, dont think I ever had breakfast there, but sure sounds like I should have!

Off topic, but for those of you thinking about Chicago, it was beautiful today. 78 degrees very low humidity and a slight breeze.

However, as I was putting some things away in the garage I kept eyeballing the snowblower thinking that before long I'll have to gas it up and make sure it will run when needed.

Reality check.

Veranda - Looks sad sitting there closed and empty
 

I read that the new Panera going into the Veranda building won't be opening until first quarter of 2011. That is too long to see the once-friendly and quaint Veranda sitting there dark and empty.

What could possibly take so long to get this prime venue operational?? A new village can be built in that amount of time!

The veranda with wicker chairs, ceiling fans and palms was such an attraction when we came for the Lifestyle Preview stay. Sitting there, watching people go by, was where we saw that this is a true hometown atmosphere.

I hope Panera keeps the outdoor portion furnished the same as it was--beckoning northerners and others with some relaxed, southern atmosphere.

I would expect that clearing the current spaces, obtaining and installing kitchen equipment (ovens, vents, cooktops, etc.), getting the interior remodeled to fit the Panera model, as well as getting all the permits through channels could create that much delay.

Hey graciegirl,
Nice to meet you. My wife and I are snowflake owners (bought in Bonita in 4/09) from northern Virginia. Recently found out about ToTV and have been eavesdropping when I can. Saw your comment "(there are exceptions and we know where they are...)". Would you mind sharing your secret places so we can also enjoy some good eats on our future visits?
Thanks a bunch,
OGP

Anyone have an opening date yet, or are we still going with the first quarter of 2011?

Not looking forward to Panera there
 

I like Panera but NOT in the Veranda location. People come from other states where everything is noisy and rush, rush, rush, and it was a pleasant surprise to come to Lake Sumter Landing and have a quiet, pretty southern hometown restaurant there where one can sit and be served.

The place was peaceful and warm as The Veranda, and now, knowing how Panera is at Spanish Springs, it will be just another Panera where you have to push and shove to crawl between people standing in the long lines, to get to the condiments bar, and people are trying to push and shove thru the people without spilling their drinks and food.

I think it is an obnoxious, loud atmosphere, having all the sights and sounds of an airport bar selling 25 cent shots of booze at 9:00 a.m.

Jane:agree::agree::agree:

Careful ... don't give the merchants here an idea! ... and ...errr ... what airport is that?

The ambiance of the veranda will never in a million years be duplicated by Panera, and as much as I have liked them they will not have my business. The "veranda experience" , as expressed by others, is on the top five reasons we decided that the villages was for us on our two lifestyle previews. In recent months we have begun to concentrate on patronizing the various country clubs and have rarely been disappointed, though we are forming our list of favorites. I must say that the 25 pounds I have had to shed since our first few months here attest to the quality and number of fine eating experiences in the general villages area. The culinary experience may not equal the golf experience, but everyone eats and not everyone golfs...

Whether we like it or not, Panera is coming and The Veranda is no more. Life is ever changing and this is one example of it.

One thing to remember is that this particular Panera might not be at all like other Panera restaurants in the chain for noise or crowds. It's more off the "beaten path" than the one in Spanish Springs, which is very close to 441.

We'll adjust and have either good or bad memories of one eatery in our home town, The Veranda....just like we did of other restaurants in other communities we've lived in.

Will I miss The Veranda? Yes, though I was not a frequent patron. Will I enjoy Panera? Who knows, I don't go there much anyway.

Good points Pooh, about adapting to change. Personally I love Panera, especially their soups. I'm looking forward to having them in town. A great place to go after golf. We've found the country clubs to be pretty mediocre as far as the food, and very busy and noisy.