I'm sure by now you've noticed the very large and in charge bakery/sandwich shop new to Church Street. That's right, Panera Bread. Since opening a week and a half ago they seem to be doing expectedly well, despite outcry from locals who didn't want a chain restaurant on their beloved Church Street. But let's face it, Panera is delicious and it gives people another place to go meet for lunch or just post up and do homework. Not only is Panera providing people with jobs in VT, but they are also donating all their leftovers at the end of every day to the Chittenden Foodbank. And there are plans for more Paneras in Rutland, Williston and South Burlington.

Now this is all very well and good. My problem with our new Panera? The set up! Have you been in there? Since Panera and the Outdoor Gear Exchange are sharing the space that used to be Old Navy, Panera is a little long and narrow for the type of restaurant that it is. When you get to the cash register to order, you are standing inches from the people ordering on either side of you and it's hard to not just start repeating their order. Even the cashiers get jumbled listening and ringing things in. Then, they tell you to sit down because someone brings you your food. The problem here? If you get something to drink, you aren't at your table when the food is ready, and your order becomes lost. And if you get ice coffee you have to go to one end to get the coffee since it's near the soda and the other end to get the milk because its at the actual coffee station. 

So by the time you set your drink down and flashing number, there is a person wandering around trying to find you and your number. Despite Panera's delicious factor, they need to get their act together. Doesn't every other Panera in the world let you go to the pick-up window?