The wait for a new bakery-caf‚ in Ames is over. Panera Bread’s officially opens Thursday.

The bakery-caf‚ chain strives to be a neighborhood gathering place, says Linda Sinclair, director of shared services for Panera Bread. She says Ames seemed like a fitting location for a new store.

“We build in college towns and suburbs and some downtown locations, but primarily we are looking for neighborhoods,” Sinclair says.

Offering a range of food, including soups and hot sandwiches, the owners of the chain want to make each location an “everyday oasis,” says Travis Segar, general manager of Panera Bread, 309 S. Duff Ave.

“Panera Bread strives for an environment where it is suitable for you to study, sit down and visit with friends, do homework and enjoy our products,” Segar says.

Sinclair says the bakery-caf‚ is in the style of an old-world European bakery. To enhance the environment, the restaurant will feature a “cozy corner” with leather furniture. There will also be a fireplace, she says.

Panera Bread offers a variety of food, from Danish pastries to panini sandwiches, says Mike Young, operating partner for Panera Bread.

“We are a bakery, deli and coffee shop all under one roof,” he says.

Although primarily a bakery, the caf‚ serves soup, salads and hot and cold sandwiches, and while bread is baked fresh daily, no food goes to waste.

“We give back to the community,” Segar says. “Anything left over at the end of the day is donated to charities.”

Sinclair says the prices at Panera Bread are competitive and reasonable for college students’ budgets. The average lunch ticket is under $6, she says.

Young says other Panera Bread locations in college towns, including Cedar Falls and Iowa City, have proven to be successful.

“They’ve been very popular with college students,” Young says. “[Students can come to] do homework and study.”

The Ames Panera has hired 74 employees, Segar says. Of those, 35 are ISU students and five are recent graduates.

John Runner, owner of West Street Deli, said he does not foresee any loss of business.

“I have my little niche of people, most of them walk over here. If they’re going to walk over to Panera, then I guess it will affect my business.

“I think it’s great,” he says of the new restaurant. “We need somewhere else to go.”

Young doesn’t anticipate any harm to competitors in the Ames area.

“Anyone selling food is a competitor, but we each seem to have our own clientele,” he says.