Paradise Bakery & Café facts for kids

Paradise Bakery & Café

Formerly	Cookie Muncher's Paradise
Industry	Bakery, Café
Founded	1976; 48 years ago (1976)
Founder	Daniel Patterson
Services	Soups, salads, sandwiches, baked goods
Owner	JAB Holding Company
Parent	Panera Bread

Paradise Bakery & Café is a Scottsdale, Arizona-based chain of bakery–café quick casual restaurants predominantly located in the western and southwestern United States. It was independently established in 1976; as of 2009, it is wholly owned by Panera Bread. As of early 2012, it operates 60 stores in 9 states.

History

The chain was established in Long Beach, California, in 1976 by Daniel Patterson. At the time it was known as Cookie Muncher's Paradise and exclusively sold cookies, muffins, and lemonade. By 1979, it had expanded to its product portfolio to include sandwiches, soups, salads, and other bakery items.

In February 2007, a majority stake in the chain was purchased by Panera, which later bought out the remainder of the company in 2009. Mark and Daniel Patterson still own and operate one paradise bakery in Aspen, Colorado.