The visionary behind Spread Bagelry is preparing to change the Philly bakery scene yet again. Larry Rosenblum is bringing Ringo, his latest innovation that reimagines the beloved donut, to the Point Breeze neighborhood, reports The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Rosenblum will be bringing his sweet creation to life in a 2001 Federal Street storefront. The restaurateur explains to What Now Philadelphia that the bustling neighborhood is on the grow, making it a great place to debut Ringo. “It is a very rapidly developing area close to Center City with a lot of new construction and new people moving”, he states, adding “The neighborhood has been developed by a real estate company called OCF Realty and this is a former OCF coffeehouse and I’m a big fan of that company and the owner.”
Rosenblum carries a wealth of carbohydrate experience into this new venture. He cracks “I was successful with round rings of dough with Spread, so I thought I’d stay in the same vernacular.”
While hardened foodies may think they’ve seen every iteration of the donut, Rosenblum has some tricks up his sleeve. His donuts will be “pancake donuts”, which he describes as: “They’re made from a base pancake batter. We have 3 varieties: maple sugar, whole grain (which is vegan), and one cornbread pancake donut. They are all customizable. You choose your donut and then you choose your topping, so every order is made as you like it.”
Those hoping for some savory to cut their sweet can order a G’Ringo, which Rosenblum describes as “the McGriddle to the hundredth degree.” The distinctive sandwich is made of two donuts, the customer’s choice of bacon, pork belly, or turkey sausage, with egg and cheese, grilled together on a panini press and covered with maple syrup.
Ringo promises to cross tried-and-true hospitality techniques with originality and innovation. The bakery will create a welcoming atmosphere, without sacrificing any of the hipness locals know to expect from Rosenblum. He offers this sneak peak into Ringo’s dining room: “Much like Spread, the vibe is funky and cool. I believe in old school retailing, get to know your customer, build your regulars and treat them well.”
A visit to Ringo will offer guests more than just a unique and delicious sweet treat; the concept will invite guests to fully engage with an experience. Rosenblum details his vision, saying “All the donuts are going to be made in specially-fitted presses and made in small batches throughout business hours, so there’s a theatrical element and people can see the donuts being made in front of them. It makes for an interesting experience.”
Rosenblum wants to create in Ringo a space where the community can feed their souls as well as their stomachs. The warm weather will bring transformation when the eatery opens the garden behind it to the public, inviting them to enjoy a sweet treat at one of the picnic tables and to cultivate flowers and herbs in the plots of earth. Additionally, Rosenblum will be installing a soft-serve ice cream machine for even more tasty options.
Rosenblum states that while there are still several odds and ends to finish up, he is certain Ringo-named both because of the apt description of its signature dish and a fondness for a certain British drummer-will be open before February.
Once Ringo opens its doors, guests will be able to visit between 7 am and 2 pm daily. The eatery will have expanded hours on weekends when the weather warms up.
