Panera Bread opens in TCNJ's Campus Town

EWING -- Fresh breads and pastries and the smell of coffee greeted customers on Monday as Panera Bread opened its newest location in the College of New Jersey's Campus Town.

The bakery-cafe chain, whose plans to open were first announced in fall 2014, now joins a half-dozen other retailers in the $120 million student housing and retail development.

TCNJ President R. Barbara Gitenstein said that as more retailers open up shop, it helps to bridge the gap between the township and the college.

"The whole Campus Town was a tremendous addition for the college, but this is an upscale addition," she said.

Marc Vavalle, joint venture partner for Panera's South-Central New Jersey region, said the unique location allows them to cater to both students and the general public.

"We still have a drive-through, we still have front parking, so you can still come here and feel comfortable without feeling like it's on campus," he said.

Inside the 4,300-square-foot restaurant, diners can gather around a combination of round and square tables -- or even a long "community table."

"We wanted to make sure it had plenty of outlets and plugs for all those laptops and all those late-night projects that are going to take place here," Vavalle said. "We wanted to make sure we had gathering spaces for not only the community, but the students as well."

As part of its outreach efforts, any baked goods that go unsold at the end of the day are donated to area soup kitchens, food pantries and churches, general manager Ryan Wadle said. He also plans on participating in events throughout the year -- both on campus and in the community.

Of the 60-some associates hired, about half are students and the other half are residents.

The cafe is open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Junior Caroline Blodi said the store hours are a game-changer for her because she now has a place on campus to get her early-morning coffee fix before her 8 a.m. class or fuel her late-night study sessions.

Blodi said it's been exciting to watch Campus Town evolve from when students first moved into the apartments in August.

"When we first moved in, it was this weird ghost town and now it's really cool watching everything come in," she said. "Now on the weekends, you see kids and families coming and hanging out."

Cristina Rojas may be reached at crojas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @CristinaRojasTT. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.

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