PopUp Bagels
{{Short description|American bagel franchise}}
{{Infobox company
| name = PopUp Bagels
| logo = PopUp Bagels logo.webp
| image = PopUp Bagels Seaport Entryway - March 2025.jpg
| image_caption = PopUp Bagels entryway in Boston, Massachusetts
| founded = {{start date|2020}} in Westport, Connecticut
| founder = {{Unbulleted list|Adam Goldberg|Jeff Lewis}}
| num_locations = 13 stores (2025)
| website = https://www.popupbagels.com/
}}
PopUp Bagels is an American boutique bagel franchise started by Adam Goldberg and Jeff Lewis in Westport, Connecticut in 2020. Originally a pop-up for Connecticut locals, it has now established retail and franchise locations along the East Coast.
History
Adam Goldberg and Jeff Lewis started baking as a pandemic hobby, switching from sourdough to bagels due to the heat of the summer.{{Cite web |title=How PopUp Bagels went from a home kitchen to being funded by Paul Rudd, Michael Phelps, Michael Strahan, and JJ Watt |url=https://www.nrn.com/regional-chains/how-popup-bagels-went-from-a-home-kitchen-to-being-funded-by-paul-rudd-michael-phelps-michael-strahan-and-jj-watt |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=www.nrn.com |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Krishna |first=Priya |date=2022-04-29 |title=A New York Bagel From an Unexpected Borough: Connecticut |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/29/dining/popup-bagels-connecticut.html |access-date=2025-02-17 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} Goldberg gave away the bagels to his friends and family but after a few months of steady increased demand for the bagels, so he decided to make it a business where customers pre-order their bagels and cream cheese in orders of three, six, or twelve.{{Cite web |last=First |first=Devra |date=February 5, 2025 |title=A visit to PopUp Bagels, very viral and now open in Boston |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/02/05/lifestyle/visit-popup-bagels-very-viral-now-open-boston/ |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=BostonGlobe.com |language=en-US}}
Goldberg started with a subscription service, mainly serving bagels by the dozen for $38. The service offered familiar and novel rotational cream cheese flavors—or schmears—such as pesto butter or cacio e pepe.{{Cite web |last=Cullen |first=Margie |title=Rip and dip: The viral bagel store PopUp Bagels comes to the Seaport in Boston |url=https://www.patriotledger.com/story/lifestyle/food/2025/01/28/what-is-popup-bagels-in-the-seaport-how-to-go/77966878007/ |access-date=2025-04-03 |website=The Patriot Ledger |language=en-US}} Early on, they worked with local businesses to make new flavors.{{Cite web |last=Slaughter |first=Carece |date=2025-03-27 |title=Adam Goldberg: The Man Behind the PopUp Bagel Revolution |url=https://resident.com/business-leader/2025/03/27/adam-goldberg-the-man-behind-the-popup-bagel-revolution |access-date=2025-03-31 |website=Resident Magazine |language=en}} According to Goldberg, ideas for flavors have also come from employees, customers, and partnerships with major brands.
The company received a lot of attention on social media leading to funding from private investors, including some celebrities.{{Cite web |last=Phillips |first=Grace |date=2025-01-29 |title=Column: PopUp Bagels have arrived in Seaport. Are they worth the wait? |url=https://huntnewsnu.com/83137/lifestyle/column-popup-bagels-have-arrived-in-seaport-are-they-worth-the-wait/ |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=The Huntington News}}