Politics & Government

Panera Bread Opened at Marcus Dairy Wednesday (UPDATE)

The Shops at Marcus Dairy are starting to open. The small plaza stands where the Marcus Dairy once stood near the corner of Sugar Hollow Road and Backus Avenue.

Panera Bread's grand opening brought together the Marcus family at The Shops at Marcus Dairy Wednesday along with city officials and customers welcoming Panera to Danbury.

Panera Bread employs about 60 full and part-time employees.

The Shops at Marcus Dairy are slowly coming together. Sleep Number is likely to open Friday and other shops will follow in 2013, including EMS and Whole Foods.

Find out what's happening in Danburywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton said at the ribbon cutting that Danbury had many new businesses open this year, and after the ceremony Danbury Economic Development Director Bruce Tuomala said he counted about 50 new businesses that opened in Danbury in 2012.

The new Shops at Marcus Dairy can be reached from Sugar Hollow and from Backus Avenue, or by taking Exit 3 from I-84. From I-84, stay right and avoid going straight into the Danbury Fair Mall. The entrance to the shops is on the right.

Find out what's happening in Danburywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"When my father bought this parcel in 1947, he knew how valuable it would be," Michael Marcus said, referring to Jack Marcus, who ran a dairy there until retiring.

Jack Marcus was on hand Wednesday for the ribbon cutting at age 96, along with his wife Pearl Marcus, 94.

Sean Marcus, a grandchild who formerly ran the Danbury milk distribution business, still works in the family dairy business. He and numerous other family members attended the ribbon cutting.

Marcus Dairy delivers milk to New York City, parts of New York State, Connecticut and Pennsylvania. It operates facilities in Oxford, New Britain and Newburgh, NY.


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