I love Panera bread. I should qualify that and say most Panera breads. I guess the choice of music and wi-fi is up to the individual franchise owners.
For instance, the Libertyville Panera has an affiliation with SBC so you have to pay for their wi-fi service. Boo Hiss! They lost my business. Of course the schlocky music they play didn't help either. Most Paneras play good classical music.
This Gurnee Panera is really hard to find. It is on an island floating in a sea of stores and roads. But you will be rewarded if you can get here with the usual delightful mix that keeps me coming back: free wi-fi, great coffee and pastries, good soups and salads, etc.
This review is being written on the spot.
Whoa, wait a minute! I just tried to surf to a Chinese astrology website and got blocked by something called sonicwall. It appears that the owners of this Panera have decided to become censors! Whoa!
The webpage said: reason for restriction: forbidden category: cult/occult. This is for Chinese astrology, the kind of thing you can read about on placemats in Chinese restaurants!
Call the ACLU, send in the clowns, wait, they're here! Those bozos have something to learn about the first amendment don't they? They are merchants, for god sakes! Please if you are reading this write Panera and tell them what you think about censorship!
We have to be the squeaky wheel when it comes to these issues, you know!
http://www.panera.com/
more