More national chains coming to the Capital Area

Panera Bread, the fast-growing sandwich chain, plans to open its first Louisiana location in Baton Rouge. Company officials say they are looking at potential sites in Baton Rouge and plan to have a restaurant open in 2011. Panera Bread, based in St. Louis, has more than 1,400 bakery-cafes in the U.S. and Canada. The chain bakes various breads in-house and uses them in sandwiches and as bowls for soups. A new frozen yogurt shop is also set to open in Perkins Rowe within a month, and officials with the mixed-use center say they are close to signing deals to bring in two new restaurants. Reflections will be located next to the Levi’s Store. Red Mango, a frozen yogurt shop, is aiming to open by mid-December. This will be the first Baton Rouge location for Red Mango, which was founded in South Korea. Rick Balow, general manager of Perkins Rowe, says he’s very close to signing deals with a regional fast/casual chain and with a national bar and grill. Both of those restaurants will occupy vacant spaces along Bluebonnet Boulevard. —Timothy Boone