Panera To Go, a concept tailored for digital convenience, has officially opened in Watertown, Massachusetts.
True to its name, the format is built for those on the go, with features like Rapid Pick-Up and delivery shelves for easy order retrieval. Guests can place orders directly at the location using kiosks or through Panera’s app, ideal for ordering in advance.
The streamlined restaurant minimizes front-of-house and does not offer dine-in options.
The new space, located at Mount Auburn St. is a relocation from 321 Arsenal St. which closed in June to transition to its current site.
The opening was facilitated by Hamra Enterprises, a franchisee group operating nationwide.
“It has been our privilege to serve the Watertown community for the past 23 years, and we are excited to open this new, upgraded location to provide a better experience for our guests,” said Mike Hamra, CEO of Hamra Enterprises.
Panera initially introduced its To Go concept in 2022, with its first debut in Chicago.
“Panera To Go is another way we can make our guests’ lives easier through digital convenience, which is always at the heart of what we do,” Panera said in a statement at the time of the launch. “We are already leaders in providing our guests with an exceptional digital experience and adapted our digital channels to provide our guests even more options in the Panera To Go format.”
Since its inception, multiple To Go locations have opened, including the recent launch in Massachusetts as well as in urban hubs like New York City.
Panera joins the ongoing trend of restaurant chains downsizing locations, as off-premises increasingly make up a larger chunk of sales.
