Two-story Panera Bread opens in Harvard Square Friday

A new Panera Bread will open in Harvard Square Friday, April 13. Photo courtesy of Panera Bread.

By Brock Parker, Town Correspondent

Panera Bread will open a two-story restaurant in Harvard Square Friday at the former location of Bob Slate Stationer.

The Missouri-based chain is hoping the new restaurant in Cambridge at 1288 Massachusetts Ave. will be one of its top two or three locations in the Boston area, said Gregg Godfrey, the joint venture area director for Panera.

“We have some pretty high expectations for Harvard Square,” Godfrey said.

The restaurant will move into space vacated by Bob Slate Stationer last spring. The bakery and cafe will also move into what had been vacant office space on the second floor of the building.

Godfrey said the restaurant will have seating for more than 100 people and will have fireplaces on the first and second floors.

The bakery and kitchen will be located on the first floor, along with two small seating areas. The second floor will have an additional beverage bar and the majority of the seating.

The Panera is across the street from Harvard University’s Widener Library, and Godfrey said the second floor will over views over the gate into the campus.

Unlike other Panera Bread restaurants in the area, Godfrey said the Harvard Square location will deliver food to patrons at their table instead of requiring them to pick up it up.

The restaurant will be open from 5:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Sundays.