Skinny jeans and med veg's at Tuttle Mall Panera...

Exterior entrance, Tuttle Mall Panera

Fashion is not my passion. To say the least. So it's no coincidence that my visit to the Tuttle Mall Panera is my second to last Columbus area Panera for me to review. Though I have had many meals at this Panera over the years, those meals happened way before the blog was born.

My cousin, Cassie, works at The Limited at Tuttle, and she recently and not so subtly told me it was time to do some shopping at The Limited. After all, they were having a "sale". We have actually been planning this shopping outing for a few months now. I was sold on the shopping trip based on the fact that we could go to Panera after the shopping.

My biggest obstacle with fashion besides a basic interest, is that I just don't know what to pick out. I warned Cassie of my shopping fear and instructed her to have everything picked out for me before I arrived. To my surprise I walked into the store, and everything was pre-selected. All I had to do was try everything on. I think I spent close to $400. Clearly I was in need of some fashion 911. I was also instructed to buy skinny jeans. My best guess is that skinny jeans have been in style for at least the past 3-years. I still think it's too bold for me, and I truly wish they would go out of style. I haven't worn them yet, but I am convinced that by the time I embrace skinny jeans, they will for sure be a minimum of 2-years out-of-style.

My body in skinny jeans. Clearly being sarcastic.

Moving along...Panera. After dropping 400 bucks on clothes, I was excited for some Panera! Sadly, Cassie ditched me for lunch, so I had to dine at the Panera alone. Her loss.

Which brings me to THE REVIEW:
Date visited: Saturday, October 8
Time of day: Noonish
Items ordered: Med veg full sandwich with chips and unsweet tea

Med veg and some unsweet tea! Bon Appetit!

Mall restaurants always have a unique crowd. This Panera is no exception. However, your typical Panera crowd normally includes a few laptop kings/queens. Based on the fact that this Panera is located at a mall, the laptop crowd was completely void. (I'm normally part of that crowd)

The mall crowd...

There are two entrances to this Panera: An outside plus an interior mall entrance. The interior layout is very narrow, and it almost seems like putting a Panera there was an after thought. I know that Panera has been there a long time...at least 10 years. I can remember going there in college. I think if the mall was being built today, Panera probably would have opted for either a free-standing location somewhere in front of the mall (similar to St. Clairsville) or a larger, more prominent space connected to the mall.

Interior mall entrance.

Random NOTES:

• My latest obsession is the med veg sandwich. I have ordered this sandwich probably 9 out of my last 10 Panera visits, even for breakfast. I think I am officially stuck in a rut. With that being said, the med veg is quite delightful. It is also fun to say, "Med Veg". This is also how the Panera associates refer to the sandwich as well. It seems that the sierra turkey has been ousted as my go-to sandwich. 
• I am told by the ladies of The Limited that the Panera manager is quite a catch. I don't think he was working on this crucial Panera Addict review day, however.
• Panera sponsored the Stephanie Spielman 5K that took place last weekend. I really should have participating in this one. Not only was it for a good cause, but it was also a really good deal. All race participants received a FREE pick 2, compliments of Panera! Apparently food motivates me. Go figure.

Buying Panera, stock that is...

Follow my logic...

• The highest that Panera has traded was right about $125/share, back in June of this year.
• It fell to right about $96/share nearly 2 months later on August 8.
• Since that day, and pretty much since December of 2010 it has been right at $100 and above.

Stay with me...I have a point:

Let's analyze what I consider the mecca of all restaurant chains: Chipotle.

• They closed at $294 today. They hit their max so far around $325/share just a couple of months ago on July 25.

• That tells me that there is room for growth with PNRA.

If you exclude the financial crisis of 2008...once Chipotle hit $100/share, they did not look back and skyrocketed.

What about Google? Same thing. Once it hit $100/share, it never looked back.
Same thing for Apple.

Fact: Walmart, McDonalds, Coca Cola have never hit $100/share.

If you take into account the local knowledge that Covelli plans to expand to at least 30 locations, my logic tells me to buy Panera. Now. I am funding my Scottrade account, and I am going to buy some shares.

Random NOTES:

• I am writing this blog about Panera stock on a Friday night. Perhaps I should re-evaluate my social life.
• If you read all this, thank you...but you might want to re-evaluate your social life as well:)