For residents who watched several Panera Bread cafés across the Spring area go dark with little warning last summer, the reopening of two north Houston-area locations represents more than the return of bread bowls and morning coffee. It restores familiar places where neighbors met for lunch, students studied after school and remote workers settled in for the afternoon.

Empresas Hamra, a family-owned restaurant operator and longtime Panera Bread franchisee, plans to open cafés at 3548 Rayford Road in Spring y 1302 West Davis Street, Suite F, in Conroe by the end of 2026. The Rayford Road Panera will lead the company’s Texas expansion when it opens Thursday, July 16.

The two cafés are among seven former Panera Bread locations across Greater Houston being brought back under new ownership. Hamra purchased the seven restaurant properties through a November 2025 bankruptcy sale and expects its Houston-area expansion to create approximately 280 jobs.

Rayford Road Panera Reopens After Nearly a Year

The Rayford Road café’s return will be especially noticeable for residents of Imperial Oaks, Benders Landing, Harmony, Legends Ranch and nearby communities along the rapidly growing Rayford Road corridor.

The location was one of three Spring-area Panera Bread cafés that closed in August 2025 after former franchise operator EYM Café of Texas LLC lost the right to operate under the Panera name and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The closings also affected restaurants on Kuykendahl Road and Louetta Road, leaving many residents without a nearby Panera for coffee, lunch, takeout and informal meetings.

EYM operated 15 Panera cafés in the Houston area before the business collapsed amid a federal lawsuit and mounting financial problems. Court and bankruptcy reporting indicated that the company carried between $10 million and $50 million in liabilities while reporting less than $50,000 in assets. Panera accused EYM of failing to pay royalties and other obligations, falling short of required food-safety and cleanliness standards and continuing to use Panera trademarks after franchise agreements had been terminated.

The locations have remained dark since August 2025. Their return under a different franchise operator marks a new chapter rather than a continuation of the former operation.

What Spring and Conroe Customers Can Expect

Guests can expect Panera Bread’s standard menu of freshly baked breads, bagels, pastries, soups, salads and sandwiches, along with Rapid Pick-Up, drive-thru service where available and participation in the MyPanera loyalty program.

Hamra Enterprises has operated Panera Bread restaurants since 1998 and currently oversees 88 Panera cafés across eight states. With the addition of the seven Greater Houston locations, the company will operate 190 restaurants under the Panera Bread, Wendy’s and Noodles & Company brands and employ more than 6,000 people across 12 states.

“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. 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,” Hamra Enterprises CEO Mike Hamra said.

For the July 16 grand opening on Rayford Road, the first 100 dine-in guests who make a purchase will receive a certificate for one free You Pick Two meal each month for a year. The first 50 drive-thru guests who make a purchase will receive a freshly baked French baguette. Both offers are available while supplies last, with the drive-thru giveaway limited to one per vehicle.

New Panera Operator Announces Local Make-A-Wish Partnership

Hamra is also entering the Houston market with a charitable partnership benefiting Make-A-Wish Texas Gulf Coast and Louisiana. The nonprofit works to grant wishes for children with critical illnesses, including families throughout the Greater Houston region.

“At Make-A-Wish, we believe life-changing wishes are made possible when our community comes together to support our mission. We are incredibly grateful to partner with Hamra Enterprises, a Panera Bread franchisee that empowers customers across Houston to make a meaningful difference for local children with critical illnesses. This partnership helps create hope, joy, and renewed strength for wish children and their families,” said Shelly Millwee, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish Texas Gulf Coast and Louisiana.

Founded by the Hamra family in 1975 and headquartered in Springfield, Missouri, Hamra Enterprises reports contributing more than $7.2 million to nonprofit organizations since 1976. Its national community partners have included Hospital Infantil de Investigación St. Jude, Hospitales de la Red Children's Miracle, Boston Children’s Hospital and the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.

For Spring and Conroe residents, the reopenings bring back two recognizable dining options while returning vacant restaurant spaces to active use and creating new local jobs. The Rayford Road opening will provide the first look at how Hamra plans to rebuild customer confidence following the abrupt closures that disrupted Panera’s presence across Greater Houston.

The remaining Panera Bread cafés in Hamra’s Houston-area portfolio are expected to open in phases through the end of 2026.

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