Panera Bread says Coralville flood-wall delays killed cafe plans

Panera Bread of Iowa took the city of Coralville to task this week regarding delays related to a flood wall project that the franchisee said forced it to kill plans for a new bakery-cafe in Coralville.

The Panera franchisee had planned to build the bakery-cafe at 213 First Ave. in Coralville, the former location of a Taco Bell restaurant that sustained damage from the massive Iowa River flood in June 2008.

"Two weeks before the June 6, 2011 construction start date agreed upon by Panera Bread of Iowa and the City of Coralville, the franchise was informed of changes to the city's flood wall plans," the company said in a statement issued Tuesday, Oct. 18.

The company said the changes would have not only delayed construction significantly, but would have required Panera Bread of Iowa to forfeit part of its land for the city to proceed with the flood wall in a new location on the property.

"Though the city has since resolved this issue, it failed to do so in a timely manner and the window of opportunity for Panera Bread of Iowa to develop this property into a bakery-cafe has passed," the statement said.

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