Panera Cares, the new pay-what-you-can cafe near Government Center, had a strong opening Wednesday, pulling in 109 percent of the retail value of the food it sold, according to the company.

The restaurant at 3 Center Plaza is a nonprofit owned by Panera Bread, the national sandwich chain. But unlike the company’s traditional stores, Panera Cares does not have set prices. Instead, it operates on donations from customers.