New York-based bagel phenomenon PopUp Bagels is expanding with a second Charlotte location. It has taken a space at the Commonwealth development in Plaza Midwood, according to reporting by Jason Thomas.
PopUp Bagels announced plans for a Charlotte debut earlier this year, handing the reins to major franchise group Power Brands Hospitality to spearhead development across North Carolina and beyond in the Southeast. The first location is slated to open at the Bowl at Ballantyne this summer.
What Now Charlotte reached out to a representative with Power Brands Hospitality for comment today, who declined to immediately comment on the forthcoming Plaza Midwood location, though more information is expected to be released soon. An opening timeline remains unclear at this time.
PopUp Bagels finds its roots in founder Adam Goldberg’s pandemic project. It began as a backyard pick-up window and quickly morphed into pop-ups and brick-and-mortar locations. The brand features a simple menu of bagels and schmears, focusing on freshness and a recipe that creates bagels with a “crispy crust and soft crumb center” that are “just the right size and with a perfect proportion of seeds,” according to the website. Bagel options include everything, salt, sesame and poppy seed, alongside schmears like plain cream cheese, salted butter and scallion cream cheese.
Locations currently include seven spots in New York, four in Connecticut and three in Massachusetts. However, the bagel brand has ambitious expansion plans across the country. It has signed deals for 300 franchise locations across 10 states, including new markets like California, Florida, Georgia and Tennessee.
Within North Carolina, the brand is also expected to join the Raleigh-Durham area soon.
