A new business moved into Hemet Tuesday when Panera Bread launched its Hemet branch as the newest of over 1,500 locations in the United States and Canada.

The bakery-cafe prides itself on its artisan-style bread. While the food is restaurantquality, the Hemet location has fast food attributes. One such attribute is the drive-thru.

"Hemet's Panera Bread is the fi rst and only location with a drive-thru in the Inland Empire. That makes this location unique," said Mayor of Hemet Robert Youssef.

The Panera Bread bakery menu includes freshly-baked breads, bagels, baked egg souffl es, pastries, and sweets. In the cafe, patrons can fi nd sandwiches, soups, hand-tossed salads, beverages, and a Panera kids menu.

"You can't get any better than our bread," said the Hemet location general manager Pamela Mink who has been a Hemet resident for over 20 years and a Panera employee for three years. "It is baked here on the premises everyday. What we don't sell, we donate to food pantries and local organizations."

Any organizations that wish to get on the donation list can apply at www.panerabread.com.

"Panera Bread has a huge following," Youssef said. "To have it here in the valley is phenomenal."

Other supporters of the new addition to Hemet's business community is the Hemet Firefi ghters Association.

"Any business owner willing to open a new location or expand a current one is creating jobs, helping the local economy, and rescuing our region's public services," said HFFA member Sean Murphy.

Mink said the new establishment has already hired on 57 employees. All but two are from Hemet or San Jacinto.

"It was important to me to get Hemet people on staff," Mink said. "Our employee base is hyper local. All of our managers live close. One, Jake Loveland, was even born and raised here."

The grand opening of the restaurant located on Florida Avenue, just west of In N' Out, had a successful turnout Tuesday.

"We were afraid that because of the holidays the opening would be small, but a lot of people came out," Mink said. "Hopefully the business can be successful and we will get to employ more locals in the future."

Several city representatives, including Mayor Youssef, made an appearance at the event and even helped take drive-thru orders.

"Quality establishments are good for the valley," Youssef said. Mink agrees, especially because it is Panera Bread that is the quality establishment.

"People identify with this brand," Mink said. "It holds a good place in many people's hearts. I think many have been anticipating having a Panera here and now they can enjoy it."