Paradise Bakery & Café is a Scottsdale, Arizona-based chain of bakery–café quick casual restaurants predominantly located in the western and southwestern United States. It was independently established in 1976; as of 2009, it is wholly owned by Panera Bread. In 2012, it operated 60 stores in 9 states.[1] As of 2025, the locations left are in Dallas, Texas and Gretna, Nebraska.
History
The chain was established in Long Beach, California, in 1976 by Daniel Patterson.[2] At the time it was known as Cookie Muncher's Paradise and exclusively sold cookies, muffins, and lemonade. By 1979, it had expanded its product portfolio to include sandwiches, soups, salads, and other bakery items.[3]
In February 2007, a majority stake in the chain was purchased by Panera, which later bought out the remainder of the company in 2009.[3] In 2016, the majority of Paradise Bakeries (excluding locations in food courts) were converted to Panera Bread restaurants.[4] In 2012, Mark and Daniel Patterson still owned and operated one Paradise Bakery in Aspen, Colorado.[5] As of 2025, the only locations left are in Dallas, Texas and Gretna, Nebraska.[6]
External links
References
- Paradise Bakery Paradise Bakery, retrieved 2017-11-17^
- Paradise Bakery & Cafe: The Challenge of Success Stanford Graduate School of Business, retrieved 2019-02-08^
- Judy Kneiszel. Paradise Bakery & Café QSR magazine, 2007-09-18, retrieved 2019-02-08^
- Ron Ruggless. Panera to close standalone Paradise units Nation's Restaurant News, retrieved 10 November 2024^
- Panera Bread Company Corporate History Page Panerabread.com, 2010-03-30, retrieved 2012-03-12^
- Locations paradisebakery Paradise Bakery, retrieved 12 August 2025^