Apparently, the woman returned to the store after having been thrown out and asked not to return. Earlier, the woman quit midshift, and proceeded to dump a bag of potato chips on the ground.
She was then physically removed from the store but shortly thereafter she returned and sparked a confrontation with the manager. The male manager in this case towered over the female causing the disruption.
At this point the manager initiated a physical confrontation with the woman, who slapped at him after he placed his hands on her. A few seconds later, the manager struck the woman twice, leaving her crumpled on the ground.
Numerous store employees quickly intervened, with several gently pushing the manager away from the woman. The manager appears to have calmed down at this point.
Interestingly, when the woman got off the ground she actually moved back towards the manager, possibly to instigate the situation further. Several employees intervened and gently pushed her away from the manager.
Witnesses report that the woman was bruised and had suffered a few minor cuts, but that it did not appear that she suffered any serious injuries.
Panera Bread has already responded to the issue, stating that it will not tolerate such behavior from its employees. Both employees have been terminated and no longer work with the company.
It is not clear at this time if criminal charges will be pursued. The confrontation occurred at the Gramercy Park location in Manhattan at approximately 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
Panera Bread is a popular fast-casual restaurant, serving a variety of soups, sandwiches, and other dishes.
