Two Katy-Area Panera Bread Cafés to Reopen Under New Ownership After 2025 Bankruptcy Closures
Nearly one year after Katy-area customers arrived to find two familiar Panera Bread cafés abruptly closed, both locations are preparing to welcome the community again under a new and experienced franchise operator.
Hamra Enterprises plans to reopen Panera Bread cafés at 25546 Kingsland Boulevard in Katy and 19506 Katy Freeway in Houston by the end of 2026. The two restaurants are part of a seven-location Greater Houston expansion that marks the family-owned operator’s entry into Texas and its largest single-market launch within one year.
For Katy families, commuters and office workers, the announcement fills a gap that has remained since August 2025. The Kingsland Boulevard restaurant served neighborhoods near Katy Mills and the western side of Katy, while the Katy Freeway café offered a convenient stop for residents and employees traveling the I-10 corridor.
What Happened to the Katy Panera Bread Locations?
Both restaurants closed as part of a sweeping shutdown involving Panera cafés operated by EYM Café of Texas LLC. The former franchisee operated 15 Houston-area restaurants before legal and financial disputes brought its Panera business to an abrupt end.
EYM filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on August 2, 2025, reporting between $10 million and $50 million in liabilities and less than $50,000 in assets. Panera had previously terminated franchise agreements and filed a lawsuit accusing the operator of unpaid royalties and other obligations, food-safety and cleanliness failures, unpaid vendors and unauthorized use of Panera branding after the agreements ended.
The closures caught Katy customers and employees off guard. Both restaurants had been active parts of the local fast-casual dining landscape, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner customers as well as people looking for a place to work, study or meet.
Their return is not a revival of the former franchise operation. Hamra Enterprises acquired seven of the shuttered Houston-area Panera restaurants through a November 2025 bankruptcy sale and is reopening them as part of its own Texas expansion. The company expects the seven cafés to create approximately 280 jobs across the region.
A Longtime Panera Franchisee Enters the Katy Market
Hamra Enterprises has operated Panera Bread cafés since 1998 and has expanded its Panera portfolio to 88 restaurants across eight states. Once the seven Houston-area locations are operating, Hamra will oversee 190 Panera Bread, Wendy’s and Noodles & Company restaurants with more than 6,000 employees in 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.
When the Katy-area cafés reopen, guests can expect the full Panera Bread menu, including freshly baked breads and bagels, sandwiches, soups, salads, pastries and beverages. Rapid Pick-Up, MyPanera loyalty benefits and drive-thru service will also be available where offered at each restaurant.
The return could be particularly welcome for local customers searching for breakfast near Katy Mills, lunch along the Katy Freeway or a casual restaurant with dine-in seating and takeout service. During the closures, residents turned to other nearby bakery-café options, including Einstein Bros. Bagels in Cinco Ranch, but no Panera Bread café remained open within Katy itself.
Reopenings Bring Jobs and Community Partnership
Along with reopening the restaurants, Hamra is introducing a regional partnership with Make-A-Wish Texas Gulf Coast and Louisiana. The organization helps fulfill wishes for children with critical illnesses across the Houston region and surrounding communities.
“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.
Hamra Enterprises was founded by the Hamra family in 1975 and is headquartered in Springfield, Missouri. The company says it has contributed more than $7.2 million to nonprofit partners since 1976, supporting organizations that include St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.
For Katy residents, the announcement answers the question that has surrounded both properties since their sudden shutdown: Panera Bread is coming back, and the vacant cafés will once again become active neighborhood businesses.
Specific opening dates for the Kingsland Boulevard and Katy Freeway restaurants have not yet been announced, although Hamra has said its first Houston-area openings will begin in Spring and Katy during July, with all seven cafés expected to open by the end of 2026.
Stay tuned to My Neighborhood News for confirmed opening dates, grand opening details and hiring updates for the returning Katy-area 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.
