Three Panera Bread Locations Returning to Cy-Fair and Northwest Houston After Months-Long Closures
Three Panera Bread cafés that have sat dark across Cy-Fair and Northwest Houston since last summer are expected to reopen under new ownership by the end of 2026, bringing familiar dining options back to several of the area’s busiest commercial corridors.
Hamra Enterprises will operate the returning Panera Bread locations at 12220 FM 1960 West, 22521 Tomball Parkway, Suite 125, and 13704 Northwest Freeway. The cafés are among seven former Panera locations the family-owned restaurant company is reopening across Greater Houston as part of its first expansion into Texas.
For residents near Willowbrook, Champions, Jersey Village and the FM 1960 corridor, the announcement provides a long-awaited answer about what would happen to restaurant spaces that closed abruptly in August 2025. The locations had served as breakfast stops, quick lunch destinations, informal meeting places and quiet workspaces for nearby residents, commuters and office employees.
Why the Northwest Houston Panera Cafés Closed
The FM 1960 and Tomball Parkway cafés were among 15 Houston-area Panera Bread restaurants previously operated by EYM Café of Texas LLC. The franchise group’s stores closed after Panera terminated its agreements and pursued legal action against the company.
EYM filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on August 2, 2025, listing between $10 million and $50 million in debt and less than $50,000 in assets. Panera’s lawsuit accused the former operator of failing to pay royalties and vendors, not maintaining required food-safety and cleanliness standards and continuing to use Panera trademarks after its franchise rights had ended.
Customers received little advance notice before the doors were locked. At the FM 1960 restaurant near Eldridge, a message posted after the closing suggested that the café could eventually return under new ownership, but no reopening timeline was available at the time.
That possibility has now become a firm expansion plan. Hamra Enterprises purchased seven of the former EYM-operated Panera restaurants through a November 2025 bankruptcy sale and expects to create approximately 280 jobs as the locations reopen across the Houston region.
What the Reopenings Mean for Cy-Fair and Northwest Houston
The three locations cover distinct but heavily traveled sections of Northwest Houston.
The café at 12220 FM 1960 West serves the Cy-Fair and Jersey Village area near Eldridge Parkway. The restaurant at 22521 Tomball Parkway is positioned near Willowbrook, Vintage Park and the State Highway 249 corridor. The 13704 Northwest Freeway location sits along U.S. 290, providing another bakery-café option for commuters and nearby businesses.
Together, their return restores several neighborhood gathering places while putting previously vacant restaurant properties back into service. It also expands Panera’s reach beyond the operating Copperfield café at Highway 6 and FM 529, which remained available to Cy-Fair residents following the 2025 shutdowns.
Guests can expect Panera Bread staples including bagels, pastries, freshly baked breads, soups, salads and sandwiches. The cafés will also offer Rapid Pick-Up, MyPanera loyalty benefits and drive-thru ordering at locations equipped for it.
Experienced Franchise Operator Takes Over Houston Locations
Hamra Enterprises has been a Panera Bread franchisee since 1998 and currently operates 88 Panera cafés across eight states. With the seven Houston-area additions, the company will own and operate 190 restaurants under the Panera Bread, Wendy’s and Noodles & Company brands, employing 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.
The statement addresses an important concern for customers who saw the previous cafés disappear almost overnight. While the Panera name will remain the same, the Northwest Houston restaurants will be operated by a different franchise company with nearly three decades of experience running the brand.
New Operator Partners With Make-A-Wish
Hamra is also launching its Texas presence through a partnership with Make-A-Wish Texas Gulf Coast and Louisiana, connecting the restaurant openings to support for children with critical illnesses and their families.
“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, Hamra Enterprises says it has donated more than $7.2 million to nonprofit partners since 1976. Its community work has included partnerships with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, Boston Children’s Hospital and the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.
What Happens Next
The seven Greater Houston Panera cafés are scheduled to open in stages through the end of 2026. Hamra has not yet announced individual opening dates for the FM 1960, Tomball Parkway or Northwest Freeway restaurants.
Until those dates are confirmed, the announcement gives Northwest Houston residents the clearest indication yet that the darkened cafés will not remain vacant—and that Panera Bread is rebuilding its local presence with a new operator, new jobs and a community partnership already in place.
Stay tuned to My Neighborhood News for confirmed opening dates, employment information and grand opening details for the Cy-Fair and Northwest Houston Panera Bread locations.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
