A new Panera Bread opened Aug. 5 at 25546 Kingsland Blvd. in Katy, the second of seven locations that franchisee Hamra Enterprises plans to bring to the Greater Houston area by the end of 2026.
CEO Mike Hamra traveled from the company's Springfield, Missouri, headquarters to cut the ribbon alongside Katy Mayor William "Dusty" Thiele and the Katy High School cheer team. The event featured remarks from both Hamra and Thiele, according to the Katy Times.
"Houston is one of the most dynamic, diverse, and food-forward cities in the country, and we are committed to being an operator this community is proud to have," Hamra said at the event. "We are here to serve, we are here to give back, and we are here to stay."
The seven-location rollout is the largest single-market launch in the family-owned company's history. Hamra's first Texas café opened July 16 in Spring, marking the franchisee's entry into its 12th state. Five more locations are expected by December in Houston, Conroe and a second Katy-area spot at 19506 Katy Freeway.
The expansion fills a gap. Previous franchisee EYM Café declared bankruptcy in 2025, leading to Panera closures across Texas.
Hamra Enterprises has operated Panera Bread cafés since 1998 and now runs 191 restaurants under the Panera Bread, Wendy's and Noodles & Company brands, employing more than 6,000 people nationwide.
At the Katy opening, Hamra also announced a partnership with Make-A-Wish Texas Gulf Coast and Louisiana as its local nonprofit partner. The company has contributed more than $7.2 million to nonprofit organizations since 1976.
The ceremony began at 9:30 a.m. with the ribbon cutting at 10:05 a.m., and the first 100 dine-in guests received a free You Pick Two certificate good for one per month for a full year, according to Houston Style Magazine. The Kingsland Boulevard location features a drive-thru, outdoor patio, free Wi-Fi and delivery through the Panera app.
The remaining five Houston-area cafés have not announced specific opening dates.
