The Panera Bread outlet on Hwy. 55 in Hastings closed last week. The bakery and cafe had operated for 10 years in a free-standing building that is part of Hastings Marketplace, a Cub-anchored retail center across the street from a Wal-Mart store.
Sharon Woods, district manager for Panera, said the lease had expired at the Hastings outlet, and the St. Louis-based chain decided not to renew it. Woods said that she was not involved in the lease negotiations and that there are no plans to open a restaurant elsewhere in Hastings. Panera's other area restaurants include outlets in Apple Valley, Eagan, Burnsville and West St. Paul
Bryan Larson, who works in retail property management for building owner Madison Equities, said managers at Panera's corporate offices told him the company was closing the Hastings store because it was an underperforming outlet. "It was out of our control," Larson said.
Larson said he expects to have a new occupant soon for the 4,800-square-foot building but declined to say whether it will be another restaurant.
Building brisk in Lakeville
Homebuilding continues to dominate construction activity in Lakeville.
The city has issued building permits valued at about $85.2 million through the end of July. This compares with about $63 million for the same period a year earlier.
The year-to-date total includes $8.5 million in commercial and industrial permits, up from $8.1 million through the end of July last year.
Meanwhile, the city issued permits for 208 single family homes through the end of July with a total valuation of $64.6 million, up from 140 permits valued at $40.6 million for the same period in 2012.
