Why St. Louis is the Only City to Call This Restaurant by a Different Name

When I left St. Louis and ventured to Chicago for my freshman year of college, I was ready for a new adventure, crazy stories, and good memories. I didn’t think this would be my first new encounter in the new city.

The Name That Changed My World

Going to a school in the South Loop of Chicago, I had plenty of options for places to eat. There was a Starbucks only steps away from my main building (and literally every block after that), burger joints around each corner, a popular taco restaurant down the street, deep dish pizza for days, and then I saw it. A bakery that looked so familiar, yet so different. It was something called Panera Bread.

Now, I recognized this bakery by its interior and logo of a lady holding bread, but I have never called this place “Panera.” I immediately went to the Internet to find out what was going on with my beloved “Bread Co.”

Oh, have you never heard of Bread Co.? The St. Louis Bread Company? Well, imagine my shock when I learned what Panera was. They’re the same thing!

I was out of my element. When I mentioned I wanted to hit up Bread Co. for lunch, I received strange looks from my friends. They had no idea what I was talking about. So when I had to use the despicable phrase for the first time out loud, I shivered. It wasn’t right. I felt like I was cheating on the entire population of St. Louis. We Show-Me-Staters are very loyal to our hometowns and traditions.

Eventually, I became accustomed to say “Panera” when I was in Chicago and “Bread Co.” when I was home in Missouri. Unfortunately, I said ‘Panera’ one time when I was home and my high school best friend couldn’t even look at me.

The History of The Name That Changed My World

So why does this simple name frustrate me so much? Why are there two names for a bakery with fabulous food? Well, it goes like this:

Back in the day, the 1980’s, St. Louis Bread was founded in Kirkwood, Missouri. A few years later, Au Bon Pain Co. purchased it and changed the name to Panera (Ugh, it was THEM!). If anyone cares, Panera means “bread basket” in Latin. Moving on, as the company expanded outside of the St. Louis metropolitan area, the new name went with them. The 101 locations still in St. Louis kept the original name, hence, why I know it to be one thing and the entire rest of the population knows it as something dumb.

I mean it’s great, so grand. Much good. In the end, it’s just a nice place to get some bread and soup.

The Heads Up About The OG Name

If you ever make a trip to the Show-Me State or are just passing through and decide to eat at the bakery, do not call it by the P-word or you will be thrown out. Not kidding. Don’t do it. We take these things very seriously. Oh, and another fun fact about my hometown is if you mention that you know anyone in the area, the very first question you’ll get is “where did they go to high school?”.

Are there any other restaurants that go by different names and make you want to rip your own hair out?