Marigold Bagels, a local New York-inspired bagel shop serving the public through farmers’ markets, is preparing to open a brick-and-mortar in North Park at 2850 El Cajon Boulevard, Suite 3.
While the company officially announced yesterday on its social media, owner Mike Rabinowitz tells What Now San Diego that he hopes to open by Summer 2025 but can’t provide an exact opening date due to being at the mercy of San Diego’s permitting process. When it opens, the New York native hopes to bring New York-style bagels to San Diego, where he says he doesn’t want to outshine any other bagel shops here but instead offer a new alternative.
“We’re thrilled to share that we’ve officially signed the lease for our very own brick-and-mortar location!” according to the announcement on social media. “This dream of recreating a classic New York bagel shop has been a long time in the making, and we couldn’t have done it without your incredible support. This new space will allow us to bake more bagels than ever before, craft a classic menu featuring all your favorite bagel sandwiches and schmears, and even introduce some exciting new additions we’ve been dreaming up.”
The New York native is extremely passionate about the bagels he serves, which are meticulously hand-rolled, boiled, topped, and baked to perfection. Unlike other bagel shops in San Diego, Marigold Bagels will be similar to those in New York, which are unique, fluffy, buttery, and often served as a sandwich. Rabinowitz chose North Park because he wanted to be in a vibrant and lively community of residents and retail. He tells What Now San Diego that he sees North Park as a neighborhood similar to New York, where hundreds of residents can walk to any stores nearby without worrying about driving too far.
While the company is preparing to make its official brick-and-mortar debut next year, it has also announced that it will temporarily pause serving at the Mission Valley farmer’s market starting on Dec. 28. during this time, the company will transition to an online sales model on the weekends until the storefront is ready to open, and Rabinowitz can dedicate his time to the complicated process of setting up at a farmer’s market. He tells What Now San Diego that, eventually, he will return to the farmer’s markets because it is such an organic way of getting more customers. Finally, because of this location, it has a beer and wine license that can be activated in the future. While there are no plans to activate this liquor license, Rabinowitz says that he is playing with the idea of one day acquiring said license to have a dedicated night to brews and bagels.
“During this transition, we’ll continue our online Drops but will be pausing our return to the Mission Valley Farmers Market until the shop opens, allowing us to serve more bagels and provide an even better experience,” the announcement continues. “Our final day at the farmers market will be Saturday, Dec. 28. Stay tuned for upcoming Drop dates to keep enjoying your favorite Marigold Bagels! Thank you for being part of our story and helping us grow. We can’t wait to welcome you into the future home of Marigold Bagels—a space built with heart, tradition, and a whole lot of love.”
