Utah-based Kneaders Bakery & Cafรฉ is jumping intoย the east side's emerging sandwich scene, months ahead of another national sandwich shop set to open next door on Broadway and Wilmot.
Kneaders will open July 17, adding to a sandwich mix that includesย Panera Bread and Jason's Deli on the northwest side of the East Broadway-North Wilmot intersection; and Beyond Bread further north on Wilmot near East Speedway.
The opening also is months ahead of Corner Bakery and Cafe, which has yet to break ground on a parcel next door to Kneaders. The two sandwich shops are literally separated by a driveway on the corner of East Broadway and South Wilmot Road.
Both chains announced last November that they were moving into the corner, anchored by CVS. Another chain, Louisiana-born Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers, is also expected to be built on that corner.
Kneaders and Corner Bakery closed their land sales within weeks of each other last fall. Neither apparently knew at the time that the other was moving in next door.ย
Corner Bakery plans to break ground in two months, says Rick Borane, a broker at Tucson's Volk Co., which handled the sale. Officials from Corner Bakery could not be reached for comment.ย
"They both decided to move forward, so may the best restaurant win," Borane said. "And hopefully theyโll both do well. Itโs just a little unusual that two are going right next to each other."
