Covelli Paneras Spread To Lake Nona, Disney Area

Bizjournals.com (blog):

A neighborhood Panera may be closer for many of us.

Panera Bread’s Central Florida franchisee earlier this year kicked off an aggressive expansion plan involving 19 new Central Florida bakery-cafes with drive-throughs, plus three more on the state’s east coast, in the next 18 months. Franchisee The Covelli Family LP is investing nearly $20 million into this effort, which is expected to bring about 1,600 jobs to the area, ranging from store workers to catering or marketing support.

Warren, Ohio-based The Covelli Family, which debuted the area’s first Panera drive-through in Winter Park in July, is slated to open its next one on Osceola Parkway near Florida’s Turnpike in Osceola County in early November.