There’s something instantly comforting about a fresh bagel, especially one that comes out of the oven still warm. That’s exactly the idea behind PopUp Bagels, the Connecticut-based bagel shop that recently opened its first Alabama location at The Summit in Birmingham. The concept is simple: serve whole, unsliced bagels straight from the oven and let customers experience them the way they were intended—“grip, rip and dip.”
I stopped by on opening day, and even with a steady rain coming down, the excitement around Birmingham’s newest bagel spot was easy to feel. Team members were running out to the parking lot with umbrellas to help customers get inside, and every person I interacted with greeted guests with a smile. Their enthusiasm was contagious.
(PopUp Bagels/Contributed)
The bagels themselves live up to the experience. Served hot and fresh, they have the perfect balance of a crisp outside and a warm, fluffy inside. After trying the “grip, rip and dip” method myself, I am convinced it is the best way to eat one…