Panera opens new restaurant near South Coast Plaza

Popular artisan-bread café Panera Bread will open its newest location, in the Bristol Center, on Wednesday.

The new café is at 3931 S. Bristol St. in Santa Ana, near South Coast Plaza. With its wide selection of café and panini sandwiches available throughout the day, the café is expected to draw local residents, families, Bristol Center and South Coast Plaza shoppers, according to a Panera press release.

In addition to sandwiches and fresh-baked bread loaves, Panera Bread also offers soups served in bread bowls, salads, bagels, pastries and sweets, specialty coffees and espresso drinks, and free Wi-Fi connection.

In partnership with the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Orange County and the Inland Empire, Make-A-Wish Season of Wishes stars will be available in exchange for a donation of $1 or more to help grant the wishes of children in the local area.

— Sarah Peters