Paradise Bakery & Cafe

Paradise Bakery & Cafe is a regional bakery-café chain known for fresh-baked goods, sandwiches, salads, and soups served in a fast-casual setting. The company was founded in 1976 in Long Beach, California by Daniel Patterson, and quickly grew to become a recognized name in the western United States, particularly for its cookies and artisan breads. A significant milestone came in 2007 when Panera Bread acquired a majority stake, later completing the acquisition in 2009. Since then, Paradise Bakery & Cafe has operated as a subsidiary of Panera Bread, with most real estate and development matters managed through Panera’s corporate team.

As of November 2025, Paradise Bakery & Cafe operates approximately 35 locations, with its strongest presence in Arizona and Colorado, and additional stores in Texas and Utah. Over the past five years, the brand’s footprint has contracted as Panera Bread has consolidated operations and rebranded select Paradise locations under the Panera name. This shift reflects Panera’s strategy to streamline its portfolio and unify its branding, resulting in fewer Paradise Bakery & Cafe units but a stable presence in core markets.

Paradise Bakery & Cafe is recognized for its ability to generate consistent customer traffic and for its flexible store formats, which can be found in both inline retail spaces and end-cap units within busy shopping centers. The brand’s longstanding reputation in the bakery-café segment, combined with Panera Bread’s national scale and operational expertise, has established Paradise Bakery & Cafe as a reliable operator in the fast-casual category. While the company is not actively expanding and does not offer franchise opportunities, its measured approach and continued performance in priority markets make it a noteworthy tenant for retail property owners and developers seeking established concepts with proven appeal.