This has become my favorite Panera location in North Phoenix. Sure, their employees are not the friendliest, but I still would drive the 7 miles to go here rather than the 1 mile to go to the Bell Rd/7th St location.
Why? A couple of things. First off, the music!! At the Mall location it is not obtrusive. It is nice and low, without the crazy obnoxious songs that are played at the Bell Rd location - at an ear-splitting decibel!!
Secondly, the food is more consistent. You can expect to get the same amount of turkey in the turkey sandwiches which, by the way, is a LOT more than the Bell Rd. location.
It's just all around a nicer play to eat and chat, read, whatever. The Bell Rd location does have nicer people though, at least compared to the few I've dealt with ordering at the Mall location.
(Oh, and at the Mall location you have... the Mall ;-) A nice place to walk in the summer, although I don't buy much there. I'm an online purchaser mostly.)