Panera Bread is on an upward swing in North Houston. After closing several locations and going dark across the region last summer, the brand is now embarking on several reopenings, according to a press release from Hamra Enterprises, the franchisee group behind the reopenings.
“Hamra Enterprises, a nationwide, family-owned restaurant franchisee headquartered in Springfield, Mo., announced the opening of seven Panera Bread® cafés across the Greater Houston area, starting with 3548 Rayford Rd, Spring, TX 77386 on July 16th— marking the company’s arrival in Texas and its expansion into its 12th state,” a press release the Hamra Enterprises team sent reads.
“The new locations span Houston, Spring, Katy, and Conroe and represent the largest single-market within a year launch in the company’s history.”
To celebrate the opening of Hamra’s first Panera Bread in Texas, Hamra Enterprises will host a grand opening day celebration starting at 6:00 AM on Thursday, July 16.
The first 100 dine-in guests with any purchase will receive a FREE You Pick Two Certificate — once a month for an entire year. Twelve free meals, one visit at a time. While supplies last.
The first 50 drive-thru guests with any purchase will receive a FREE freshly baked French baguette, straight from the bakery. One vehicle per giveaway. While supplies last.
The next opening is planned for Katy later this year at 25546 Kingsland Blvd., with the other five Panera Bread locations set to open not long after. The Panera Bread locations abruptly closed last year in the wake of a high-profile franchise dispute.
“The Houston-area restaurants have been dark since August 2025, when their previous owner—ordered by a judge to stop using the Panera name—closed them down and sought Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection,” the press release on the franchisee group’s website reads.
“Hamra Enterprises, a family-owned franchise that already owns dozens of Panera Bread locations across the Southeast, purchased the seven restaurants in a November 2025 bankruptcy sale.”
What Now Houston reached out to Panera Bread’s Senior Development Project Manager, Theresa Padua, to find out more about the closures and the upcoming expansion. Unfortunately, we did not hear back by the time of this publication.
The fast-casual bakery cafe chain, originally named the St. Louis Bread Company, has been serving up and dishing out a menu full of sandwiches, soups, and baked goods since the late ’80s.
There are now more than 2,000 Panera Bread locations throughout the country, and the brand is continuing to add more. The brand continues to develop and serve new sandwiches, drinks, and pastry items.
“We are Panera Bread, and we believe that good food, food you can feel good about, can bring out the best in all of us,” the Panera Bread website reads.
“Food served in a warm, welcoming environment, by people who care. To us, that’s good eating, and that’s why we’re here.”
Hamra Enterprises has been a Panera Bread franchisee since 1988. The nearly three-decade partnership with the brand has allowed Hamra Enterprises to grow its Panera portfolio to 88 cafés across eight states through a people-first, community-centered approach to restaurant operations.
“We have spent 50 years earning the trust of guests across 11 states, and we do not take lightly what it means to serve in a new market,” Hamra Enterprises CEO Mike Hamra said in the press release announcing the reopenings.
“Houston is one of the most dynamic, diverse, and food-forward cities in the country, and we are committed to being an operator this community is proud to have. We are here to serve, we are here to give back, and we are here to stay.”
What Now briefly spoke with Hamra Enterprises Vice President of Operations, John Addelia, who connected us with his team.
With the addition of the seven locations in Houston, Hamra will now own and operate 190 locations under the Panera Bread, Wendy’s, and Noodles & Company brands, employing over 6,000 people across 12 states.
“Panera Bread makes food that we are proud to serve our own families, from crave-worthy soups, salads, and sandwiches to mac & cheese and freshly baked breads and sweets,” the Hamra Enterprises team shared.
“Each recipe is filled with ingredients we feel good about, and none of those we don’t, because we are committed to serving our guests food that feels good in the moment and long after. Nothing beats breaking bread together.”
Some of the latest menu highlights include the Ultimate Garden Steak and Shrimply Baja salads, Salad Stuffers, and the Strawberry Poppyseed Salad.
Beyond bringing the beloved brand back in full force to North Houston, Hamra Enterprises is planning to support the community in more ways than one. The franchisee group has partnered with Make-A-Wish Texas Gulf Coast Louisiana, is continuing its fundraising program to donate 20% of meals purchased to non-profit organizations and local schools, and is upholding Panera’s Day-End Dough-nation® program. In addition, the North Houston reopenings will result in about 280 jobs.
“We are always looking for talent, and if you are interested in starting or growing your career in any of the 12 states we operate in. Submit an application on our website,” the franchisee group shared.
The first of Hamra Enterprises’ Panera Bread Texas expansion begins with the Spring and Katy locations set to open by the end of this month, with five more locations slated to open in the near future.
