Everyday after school, Rania Baig, freshman, diligently studies at Panera.

Baig started going to Panera with her brother, Mahad Baig, and it has now become part of her daily routine.

She enjoys studying at Panera because of the friendly staff and nice background noise the restaurant provides. She prefers studying when it isn’t too quiet but also isn’t too loud because it helps her concentrate better.

“The background noise isn’t too loud like Barnes and Nobles and not too quiet like the library,” Baig said.

Although Panera has been the best place for Baig to focus, she also said she thinks there are some disruptions.

“They should kick out the immature kids who go there and disrupt the environment,” Baig said.

Baig said if Panera focused on dedicating their restaurant to students studying, they could get a lot more customers.

Most students go to Panera primarily to eat with their friends, but with Panera’s long hours and motivating environment, Baig sees potential in Panera becoming a major study spot.

“I like making plans with friends to go study there because they often help me and they also feel comfortable within the environment,” Baig said. “They find the desserts enjoyable as well.”

Dan Kelahan, local Panera manager, said Panera has always been a place welcoming people to do their own work as they eat.

“It’s been the same oasis since we’ve opened, always encouraging people to relax and hang out,” Kelahan said.

Panera becoming a study spot has increased the amount of customers Panera gets from 20-40%, Kelahan said. He said that 75% of students studying are in groups of people, and 25% of them are by themselves.

“The key is the environment and free WiFi,” Kelahan said.

Shivali Chhabra, math professor at St. Louis University and Washington University, spends her evenings and weekends tutoring high school students at Panera. She schedules around 13-15 sessions a week at Panera.

“I enjoy teaching at Panera because I can often grab a snack while teaching kids,” Chhabra said.

Chhabra recommends Panera to students working on group projects because they are able to talk to each other freely.

“I think it’s a very nice and cozy space that allows kids to be productive while still being able to speak,” Chhabra said.

Varenya Vemulapalli, senior, is a student of Chhabra, and likes to come to Panera to not only attend class, but also to get help from her peers.

“Usually at Panera a lot of my peers are there, so I can talk to them when I’m taking a break or if I need help with something,” Vemulapalli said.

Vemulapalli said she sees many students at Panera usually in the evenings, around 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

She said Panera is the perfect study spot because it is less distracting than her home environment.

“If there’s always a lot going on in your home that’s distracting, like people coming in and out all the time, Panera is easy to get your work done,” Vemulapalli said.

Unlike Vemulapalli, Landon Lawhorn, junior, likes to study alone, but still loves studying at Panera.

“Panera is special because of the early 2000s atmosphere, the great bagels, and unlimited coffee,” Lawhorn said.

Lawhorn goes to Panera twice a week to study for his Accounting and Psychology 101 online college classes. He said it is important to find a good study spot for one’s personal needs.

“If you enjoy running into people from your school while studying, then Panera is the place for you,” Lawhorn said.

This story was originally published on Marquette Messenger on March 5, 2025.