Panera Bread, Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers coming to downtown Iowa City

Two notable national restaurant chains are coming to downtown Iowa City's Old Capitol Town Center.

Panera Bread and Freddy's Custard & Steakburgers will be new tenants in the mall, at 201 S. Clinton St., adding to options in the first-floor food court, according to a news release from the Iowa City Downtown District.

The restaurants will be next door to each other on the Clinton Street side of the shopping center, each with interior and exterior entrances. Construction has already begun, according to the release, with Freddy's set to open in February 2019 and Panera scheduled to open a few months later.

Although there already are Panera locations in Iowa City and Coralville, this will be the first Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers location in Johnson County, with restaurants already in Cedar Rapids.

Here are profiles of the two restaurant chains provided by the Downtown District:

' Panera Bread's identity is rooted in handcrafted, freshly baked, artisan bread. Panera Bread is committed to providing great tasting, quality food people can trust. Highlighted by antibiotic-free chicken, whole grain bread, select organic and all-natural ingredients, and a menu with zero grams of added trans fat, Panera's bakery-cafe selection offers flavorful, wholesome offerings. The menu includes a variety of year-round favorites to complement seasonal items and breads baked fresh daily in each bakery-cafe by skilled bakers.

' Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers is known for its lean ground-beef burgers, Vienna Beef hot dogs and crispy shoestring fries, as well as dessert treats prepared with chocolate or vanilla frozen custard churned fresh several times throughout the day in each restaurant.