PEMBROKE SQUARE: Taco Bell open for business, Panera pushed to January
November 22. 2014 1:10PM
PEMBROKE SQUARE: Taco Bell open for business,
Panera pushed to January
The new Taco Bell in Pembroke Square opened for business on Halloween. But design and construction
delays have pushed the opening of the new Panera Bread to January.
The Panera in its current condition. Wicked Local Photo/Mark Burridge
Taco Bell is open for business but Panera Bread is still under construction at Pembroke Square.
The two new restaurant chains were originally set to open in October, but design delays on the Panera store have pushed its expected opening to early in 2015.
"The Taco Bell opened on Oct. 31," said Ken Fries, spokesman for RK Centers, which owns the property. "But we're a month to a month and one half from the Panera opening."
Fries said the parking lots for both restaurants, originally set to be installed after the buildings were finished, are nearly complete. Because of this, Taco Bell was able to open for business late last month.
"We set it up so emergency vehicles would still have access and people could get in and out," he said.
As for Panera Bread, Fries said builders are currently working on the interior. Last week crews began the treatment on the outside to keep the building weather proof heading into winter.
Lost construction time anticipated during the upcoming Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays means Panera is now on track for a January opening, Fries said.
"We lose a better part of a week for Thanksgiving and another chunk of time for the holidays," he said.
The Pembroke Square project got underway in May when the previous buildings at 155-156 Church Street, which included Au Bon Pain and an Eye Health Services office, were razed.
RK Centers owns most of the commercial property in that part of Pembroke, including the Stop & Shop across the street and recently purchased the Lowe's store located behind Pembroke Square. In total, the company owns more than 30 properties in Florida and New England.
Mark Burridge may be reached at mburridge@wickedlocal.com.
