East Coast transplant PopUp Bagels has spent months promising to build “community” as it plots as many as 10 San Diego locations. Now, the reportedly $300 million celebrity-backed bagel chain is facing backlash after an employee of its nearly 60-year-old La Jolla neighbor accused the company of taking over shared parking for a loud promotional event without warning – and says the confrontation was merely the latest in a series of parking disputes dating back to before PopUp even opened.
The honeymoon may be ending for one of San Diego’s buzziest restaurant newcomers. Celebrity-backed PopUp Bagels is facing criticism in La Jolla after an employee of neighboring Mitch’s Surf Shop publicly accused the rapidly expanding chain of effectively commandeering their shared parking area for a loud, DJ-driven promotional event, allegedly blocking parking and interfering with business at one of San Diego’s oldest surviving surf shops.
The dispute erupted after the employee posted video through the Instagram account @b.h.university showing a crowd gathered beneath several tents outside PopUp Bagels at 637 Pearl Street, in the parking area immediately outside Mitch’s Surf Shop at 631 Pearl Street…