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Atlanta Breadto reopen threestores that closed

By PAUL SWIDER
Published June 18, 2006

ST. PETERSBURG - The Atlanta Bread Co. stores that closed abruptly earlier this year will reopen under corporate management in the next few weeks.

The original franchisee gave up the locations in St. Petersburg, Clearwater and Tampa, but corporate officials said they like the stores' locations and want to return. The St. Petersburg store will open by the end of June, and the two other stores will undergo renovations before reopening later this summer.

"All this building going on with all these offices, this is a huge opportunity for us," Jerry Bostelaar, the company's franchise business consultant, said of the store at 179 First Ave. N in the Midcore Garage near BayWalk. "There is a huge amount of foot traffic here."

General manager Ian Cohen said he wasn't certain when the store would open but said a sure sign for customers would be when the tables and umbrellas return along the sidewalk for outside seating. The company plans a grand re-opening sometime after starting business again in the store.

Cohen said customers would see the same menus, featuring soups, salads, sandwiches, baked goods, gourmet coffees and a variety of breads, but added that since this location is now a corporate store, diners might also see some market testing of new items, like the "puffin'' muffin, muffin tops or a cream-filled muffin. He said the store also plans more catering to area offices and organizations.

Cohen said the store will continue to bake all goods fresh each day but may also bake more throughout the day. All old baked goods will be donated in the evening to local charities.

Bostelaar said the corporation had originally sought a new franchisee for the three bay area stores, but then decided to open them and find a franchisee later. The aim is to have them return to franchise ownership like all but three of the other 180 U.S. stores.

"We're a franchise company," he said.

The chain is in the midst of changing its stores to something quieter and more subdued, Bostelaar said, including booths, gentler colors and less of a cafeteria style. The Clearwater and Tampa stores will be remodeled along these lines before reopening. The St. Petersburg store will be remodeled at some future date.

The St. Petersburg store opened in 2001. The Tampa store, on Citrus Plaza Drive, and Clearwater store, on U.S. 19, had been in operation since 2000.

Paul Swider can be reached at 892-2271 or pswider@sptimes.com or by participating in itsyourtimes.com.

[Last modified June 18, 2006, 07:33:34]