JANESVILLE Great Harvest Bread Company opened its doors in downtown Janesville on Friday, becoming one of more than 150 independently owned and operated Great Harvest franchises in the country.
The chains newest store is located at 205 N. Main St., West of the Block 42 Bodacious Shops.
Customers flooded the grand opening, first stopping at the bread board a station where an employee offers them a free slice of bread before they join the line to place their main order.
In addition to selling bread, the Janesville location serves breakfast and lunch all day, and will cater for business meetings and special events, according to the companys press release.
I really just want to create an experience for people, Stephanie Agnew, a manager at the Janesville store said. You walk in and you smell that freshly baked bread.
Agnew said Great Harvest has brand recognition in the Midwest, although the company is based in Montana. Each bakery location mills wheat from Montana into whole wheat flour on sight, every day.
In Janesville, customers can catch a glimpse of this process through a window in the milling room.
Elaine Pohlman, a Janesville resident, said the restaurant fills a gap in the breakfast scene in Janesville. She added that both her and her husbands breakfast sandwiches were wonderful, and that the bread was by far her favorite part of the experience.
If I need to bring communion bread to my church, Ill come here and get a loaf, she said.
Pohlman said her only complaint was that the restaurant was very noisy, making it hard to communicate while ordering.
Ali Walker, an employee at The Looking Glass, said she is always excited for new downtown spots to tell customers about.
Its going to be a great addition to downtown, especially with the coffee shop right here and the salad shop, she said.
{span}The northernmost section of downtown consists of Quint and Rishy Studers growing collection of businesses, now termed the Bodacious Shops of Block 42, which have includedBodacious Brew, Bodacious Olive and SoChopped Salad Bistro.
The Studers bought the former United Way building next to the Bodacious Shops in 2024 for $500,000. Work began on the building last year, and completion was planned for mid-May this year.
Extensive renovations to the building delayed the grand opening about a month.
All the Bodacious shops feature backdoor patios facing the Rock River, including Great Harvest.
Walker said she especially loves the restaurants architecture, praising its atmosphere and large windows.
Its very light and bright, Walker said. I love the patio. Its gonna be nice for the summer, and a good little spot for sammies.