Panera, ex-video store site approved
Board grants parking waiver
The city-parish Planning and Zoning Commission on Monday approved the final development plan for a Panera Bread location at Towne Center and a parking waiver for the expansion of the former Blockbuster video store on College Drive, which is expected to become home to a Panda Express restaurant and Gameware and Verizon Wireless stores.
The commission granted the owners of the Blockbuster building the waiver for the building because they have a long-term lease for the proper number of spaces in the parking lot next door.
The 5,327-square-foot building will be expanded by 2,200 square feet to make room for the two retailers, which could be in place within a couple of months, and the Chinese restaurant.
Walter Salek, the developer from Dallas who bought the building, said the deal with Panda Express isn’t final yet but he’s hoping to have the restaurant in place by September.
Salek called the parking waiver a “huge step in the right direction,” and noted the deals with Verizon and Gameware are final.
Gameware is currently located on the other side of Dawson Creek but will move.
As for Panera, the location will be the first in Baton Rouge. The company did not return calls inquiring about an opening date earlier this month.