By Michael Ventura
DNAinfo Senior Editor
MANHATTAN — An army of national and international chain restaurants is set to invade Manhattan, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Sandwich seller Panera Bread, German pasta chain Vapiano, and health food chain Freshii, are all eyeing openings in the borough in the coming months, the Journal said.
They join a series of burger joints set to open through Midtown, as DNAinfo reported last week.
Panera Bread is scouting for locations on the Upper East Side, Upper West Side and downtown, the Journal said.
Vapiano is working on a space on University Place, the paper said.
"Obviously it is an excellent time to be developing in the New York City market," Andrew Moger, president of Branded Concept Development, which is working with Freshii, told the Journal. He cited the economic downturn as creating a ripe environment for investment, with rents down by 30 percent.
"Right now we're in the process of looking all over Manhattan to find attractive options," Amit Kleinberger, CEO of the California-based frozen yogurt chain Menchie's, told the Journal.
Menchie's is looking to open an Upper West Side location by the end of the year, and several others elsewhere in Manhattan next year, the paper said.
