French Restaurant to Join Campus Martius

DETROIT-The Downtown Campus Martius park will be the testing ground for French-inspired Au Bon Pain’s push into Michigan, company officials say. The casual dining chain expects to open its first Michigan location in the park in November, with other cafes expected to open soon around the region, officials say.

Au Bon Pain will franchise the café through a Dearborn-based restaurant operator, George Darany, who also owns several Big Boy restaurants in southeastern Michigan, company officials report. The restaurant offers a menu of fresh-baked goods and salads similar to Panera Bread, another sandwich-and-baked-goods chain that once owned Au Bon Pain.

The Campus Martius café will seat about 40 people inside, but additional seating will be available outside and around the park. In addition to the main park’s café, several mobile kiosks will offer a smaller menu of sandwiches, pastries and beverages will be located through the park.