Drexel University students are about to get their bagel fix as a Philadelphia-born bagel shop makes its way to University City.
Bagels & Co. will open its latest location at 3201 Cuthbert St.
“A part of our growth strategy is really these college campuses. It’s worked really, really well for us,” CEO Kevin Armantrout told Whatnow Philadelphia
The Drexel University location will follow an efficiency model to serve a high volume of customers, especially on weekends, with the help of third-party delivery apps and the Bagels & Co. app.
“We can still have a line and work through it very quickly, but also satisfy the other part of the business, which is coming in from multiple channels. It’s not two kitchens, but we built and have one side for people just walking in and the other side for everything else,” he said.
Bagels & Co. will join the brand’s existing city spots in Brewerytown, Fishtown, Northern Liberties, Midtown Village and South Philadelphia.
The chain also has a growing presence beyond Philadelphia, with several locations across Florida, where it was named one of Fort Lauderdale’s best bagel spots, along with another location in Ohio.
The menu puts bagels front and center, paired with more than 20 schmear varieties crafted and blended in-house daily. Options range from sweet flavors such as Cookie Monster, birthday cake and cannoli to savory picks like sun-dried tomato, jalapeño cheddar and cucumber dill.
Guests can also dig into heartier options, including all-day breakfast and lunch sandwiches. Standouts include the “Jersey Shore,” loaded with every breakfast meat on the menu alongside egg, cheese and hash browns, and the “Joey’s Hot Honey Chicken Sammy,” featuring fried chicken, pepper jack cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato, onion and chipotle mayo, finished with a drizzle of Mike’s Hot Honey.
Classic coffee, matcha and espresso drinks will also be available, with hot and iced options alongside the popular Dirty Celsius to round out the menu.
Next year will bring more growth, with plans to launch 10 additional locations and kick off franchising.
The Drexel University location plans to debut by mid-November. Visit the Bagels & Co. website and follow along on Instagram and Facebook for the latest updates.
[Editor’s Note: The article now includes an interview with Kevin Armantrout.]
