Posted on August 13, 2026 by Katy Times

Hamra Enterprises, a nationwide, family-owned restaurant franchisee headquartered in Springfield, Mo., opened its second Panera Bread® café in the Greater Houston area, located at 25546 Kingsland Blvd, Katy, with a grand opening celebration on August 5. The Katy café follows Hamra’s first Texas location, which opened in Spring on July 16 — marking the company’s arrival in its 12th state.

The grand opening celebration featured a ribbon cutting, with remarks from company CEO Mike Hamra and Katy Mayor William “Dusty” Thiele, along with the Katy High School cheer team.

Katy is the second of seven planned Panera Bread cafés across Houston, Spring, Katy, and Conroe, representing the largest single-market launch in Hamra’s history. A Panera Bread franchisee since 1998, Hamra Enterprises has spent nearly three decades deepening its partnership with the brand, growing its Panera portfolio to 88 cafés across eight states through a people-first, community-centered approach to restaurant operations. With Katy, Hamra now owns and operates 191 locations under the Panera Bread, Wendy’s, and Noodles & Company brands, employing over 6,000 people across 12 states.

Hamra’s approach to restaurant operations is rooted in the conviction: that great hospitality and genuine community investment go hand in hand. Each Hamra-operated Panera café provides job opportunities for the community it serves and engages with its neighborhood as if it is the only location in the portfolio.

“We have spent 50 years earning the trust of guests across 11 states, and we do not take lightly what it means to serve in a new market,” said Hamra. “Houston is one of the most dynamic, diverse, and food-forward cities in the country, and we are committed to being an operator this community is proud to have. We are here to serve, we are here to give back, and we are here to stay.”

The Greater Houston cafés expected to open by the end of 2026 also include another location in the Katy area, at 19506 Katy Freeway, Houston.

Hamra announced that it would continue its partnership with Make-A-Wish® Texas Gulf Coast and Louisiana as its local Houston-area nonprofit partner.

Since 1976, Hamra Enterprises has contributed more than $7.2 million to nonprofit partners nationwide. Houston joins a portfolio of communities that have come to count on Hamra as a neighbor, not just a restaurant. To learn more about Hamra’s community giving programs, visit hamraenterprises.com/giving-back.

About Hamra Enterprises

Hamra Enterprises is a dynamic organization owned and founded in 1975 by the Hamra family, headquartered in Springfield, Missouri, and includes three restaurant brands with 6,000 employees

across 12 states. Hamra Enterprises is committed to providing the highest quality products and services within the hospitality industry, creating exceptional experiences for people and communities by engaging each of its restaurant neighborhoods through community service, fundraising, and other philanthropic partnerships such as Boston Children’s Hospital, Make-A-Wish of Illinois, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, and St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. For more information, visit hamraenterprises.com.

Link to article: https://katytimes.com/stories/hamra-enterprises-opens-second-panera-bread-in-greater-houston-bringing-fresh-baked-hospitality,171982?