Construction workers piece together the rafters of what officials have confirmed will soon be a Panera Bread and an Aspen Dental-branded dental practice. The dental practice is scheduled to open in May, but no date has been announced for the restaurant.

After months of rumors, officials have confirmed that 1323 U.S. 72 East in Athens will be the new home of Panera Bread and Aspen Dental.

Rumors have floated for months about the businesses that might take up shop at the location. On Friday via email, Emily Dale, senior communications specialist for Aspen Dental Management, became the first to confirm to The News Courier that an Aspen Dental-branded dental practice doing business as Aspen Dental will be one of them.

Athens City Council President Harold Wales later confirmed Panera Bread as the other.

Last year, Panera Bread asked city officials to offer the company $250,000 in incentives but the request brought controversy to council meetings. Then-Council President Chris Seibert described the deal in August 2018 as similar to the one approved for the Buffalo Wild Wings-anchored shopping center in 2015. In that deal, the city of Athens provided no upfront money but agreed to abate sales taxes from BWW, Osborne’s Jewelers and Marco’s Pizza up to a $220,000 total threshold.

At an Aug. 13, 2018, meeting, Seibert told a crowded Council Chambers that due to “inaccurate” remarks and “anxiety” over the Panera proposal, there would be no vote on the measure.

Wales said Friday a new request was made about a month ago by Panera that would allow for $150,000 in incentives. Wales said council members discussed it among themselves but had “hardly any interest” in going forward with the plan.

He said the incentives would still be tax-centered and no other offer or alternative was proposed.

Dine and dental

While no opening date has been announced for Panera, Dale said the dental practice is scheduled to open at the end of May.

Dale said it would be the first Aspen Dental-branded dental practice in Athens. Each practice is independently owned and operated, and it is not known at this time who will be operating under the Aspen Dental brand.

However, it’s not the first time Aspen Dental has found itself neighbors with Panera Bread. The pair have joint locations in Lockport, Illinois; Morganton, North Carolina; Auburn, Maine; and Gadsden, to name a few.

While some positions have already been filled, Dale said applications for the dental practice are being accepted at https://www.aspendentaljobs.com.