THE NEWS DESK
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Panera plans southern Stafford restaurant
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BY BILL FREEHLING
Panera Bread plans to open a location off U.S. 17 in Stafford County with some help from a public incentives package approved earlier this summer.
Panera will lease a 1-acre parcel in front of the Carter’s Crossing shopping center for a 4,000-square-foot facility that could open in about a year.
The chain hopes to begin construction as soon as the county approves a conditional-use permit and site plan, said Chris Hornung, a vice president for The Silver Cos., the developer of Carter’s Crossing.
The eatery will be at the intersection of South Gateway Drive and U.S. 17, in front of the Target store and near the Interstate 95 interchange. Panera’s plans for the facility include a drive-through window.
Panera will receive as up to $75,000 from the county in the form of water and sewer fee rebates if it meets certain performance requirements involving new tax revenue for Stafford. County officials approved that agreement earlier this year. The Panera facility is expected to create about $126,500 in new annual revenues for Stafford.
A similar incentives deal was approved for a second restaurant in that area, but Silver officials are still working with prospects. A Wawa is also scheduled to be built in front of Carter’s Crossing.
The Carter’s Crossing eatery will be the fourth for Panera in the Fredericksburg region. The chain also has locations at Cosner’s Corner in Spotsylvania County, Central Park in Fredericksburg and Stafford Marketplace in North Stafford.
Bill Freehling: 540/374-5405
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