Customers who stopped in for their morning coffee and brioche Monday at the Panera Bread eatery in Dearborn got a surprise: a menu board that no longer has prices but "suggested donations."
It's part of an innovative switch from the for-profit Panera Bread operation to a nonprofit Panera Cares. All profits are being donated to local charities, and down-on-their-luck people can eat for little or no cost.
Ron Shaich, Panera Bread's co-founder and executive chairman and president of the Panera Bread Foundation, called the concept "a new kind of café." People are encouraged to take what they need and donate their fair share. There are no prices or cash registers, only suggested donation levels and donation bins.
"The vision for the Panera Cares Cafe was to use Panera's unique restaurant skills to address real societal needs and make a direct impact in communities," Shaich said Monday. "At the end of the day, this community café isn't about offering a handout. It's about offering a hand up to those who need it."
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