Bagels & Co. to open 20 locations
Bagels & Co. is targeting Pennsylvania and Florida for expansion.
The Philadelphia-based company, which boasts a wide assortment of cream cheese flavors and Brooklyn-style bagels, is kicking off its expansion with plans to open 20 locations throughout Pennsylvania and Florida.
Bagels & Co.’s cafés serve an eclectic spread of more than 30 cream cheese flavors that are displayed similar to the way gelato is in an ice cream parlor. Among the iconic flavors are bacon cheddar, birthday cake, black truffle, cookie monster, S’mores, sriracha scallion, roasted garlic and vegan tofu spreads.
When the company opens in a new city, seasonal cream cheese flavors will be added to reflect that city, local sports teams and more. Bagels & Co. also offer more than a dozen bagel varieties that are baked fresh daily onsite and made-to-order sandwiches.
The interior décor is highlighted by natural lighting, white subway tile walls, warm gray wood walls and white quartz marble countertops. Digital menu boards feature daily and weekly specials. In addition to indoor seating, some locations feature outdoor patio seating.
“Our initial expansion will be in Florida and Pennsylvania which we believe offers incredible growth opportunities for the Bagels & Co. brand,” said Derek Gibbons, COO of restaurant group Glu Hospitality, who is leading the expansion with business partner Mike Marsh. “Our future plans call for expanding beyond that to several states and eventually a national rollout. We appeal to a wide audience.”
Bagels & Co., one Glu Hospitality’s restaurant brands, currently has four locations open in Philadelphia with three more set to open in the city in 2023. It also is opening eight locations in Florida, including in Fort Lauderdale and Wilton Manors.
“Bagels & Co. is a true neighborhood café that appeals to everyone,” said Marsh, a venture capitalist, who has helped the company raise funding to elevate it to compete on a national scale.
Bagels & Co. supports local communities in the cities where the company has a presence, partnering with local non-profit organizations as part of the company’s philanthropic initiatives. First responders, including police, firefighters and EMTs, nurses, doctors, teachers, veterans and active military personnel who come to Bagels & Co. in uniform or present their work ID will always receive 10% off their orders.
Based in Philadelphia, Glu Hospitality was founded in 2020 by CEO and partner Tim Lu and COO and partner Gibbons. The company currently operates 10 restaurants, bars and venues in Philadelphia: Figo Italian, Izakaya Fishtown, Añejo Philadelphia, Bagels & Co., Brewerytown Foodhall, 1225 Raw, Leda's Cocktail Lounge, and Vesper Center City Philadelphia. The company plans to expand its footprint in Florida and several additional states in the near future.