Panera Testing New Concept in Bedford

A different kind of Panera has opened in Bedford.

You can still get your sandwiches, soups, salads and baked goods, but don’t expect to sit down and be one of a dozen or so patrons camped out and plugged in for an hour or better at the café.

As the sign out front says in no uncertain terms, the Middlesex Turnpike location is focused on takeout and delivery business.

That's not to say you can't walk in and order a sandwich here, because you can. But the idea, according to the company, is to see if a model based more on pickup, delivery and online orders can be viable.

“It’s a different kind of concept,” said Linn Parrish, vice president for public relations. “The idea is to try out this kind of concept to see if it can work.”

With its location at the corner of Burlington Road and Middlesex Turnpike, the new Panera is roughly at the intersection of residential neighborhoods and commercial/industrial complexes. The eatery expects to attract customers from both.

Parrish confirmed the minimum order for deliveries will be a relatively low $5 and there is a catering menu available for larger orders, indicating delivery service will target both the residential and corporate populations.

The new Panera location, at 213 Burlington Road, features a take out counter where customers can pick up orders placed online and several iPad terminals capable of remembering a patron's previous orders as soon as they swipe a credit card. As well, there is seating in the building’s atrium that can be used as common seating.

While it’s unlike most Panera’s in many senses, there’s one way it’s very much the same: Baked goods will be baked fresh each night on the premises, according to Parrish.