By KAYLA WIMME

The Mirror reporter

Many people in the Stevens Point/ Plover area are ecstatic about the newest addition to the Crossroads Commons.

“It’s the best decision Stevens Point has made,” Jaxon Holmes, a senior at SPASH, said.

Prior to Panera Bread, Hudson’s Classic Grill and Denny’s were in the building. Both restaurants closed due to a lack of business.

Kara Battaglia, a junior at SPASH, said, “I’m very excited for them to open and I believe that they will succeed and get an amazing amount of business.”

Panera Bread will open on Oct. 31. There are many positions that can be applied for such as bakers, shift supervisors, and catering coordinators. Applications can be made online at their website.

Panera Bread serves soups, sandwiches, salads, bakery items and cater events and parties. As of 2015 their most popular menu items, according to multiple polls conducted by Panera Bread, were the bacon turkey bravo sandwich and the chicken chipotle panini.

“They have an amazing soup with a bread bowl,” SPASH senior Joey Roth said.

“A good and fast restaurant like this has been greatly awaited, I’m so glad they decided to move to Plover,” Matt Konkol, a sophomore at SPASH, said.

The first Panera Bread was opened by Louis Kane and Ron Shaich in Kirkwoo, Missouri in 1981.  Since then they have branched out to cities all over the United States and Canada.