WEST PALM BEACH, FL — Max Ayoub and business partner Gus Lange are bringing a classic New York boil-and-bake bagel shop to downtown West Palm Beach next year. Ayoub told Business Debut the first location of 212 Bagel Co. will open at 527 Clematis St, West Palm Beach, FL 33401, with the team targeting a June 2026 debut.
Ayoub, who prefers to go by Max, said the concept is rooted in Brooklyn, where he spent years working for the bagel manufacturer and shop Baked in Brooklyn. “I tried every bagel spot from Miami to Boca and couldn’t find anything close to the real thing,” he told Business Debut. “That’s when it hit me, I should bring a true New York bagel to Florida.”
What to Expect
212 Bagel Co. will operate as a fast-casual shop with about 16 seats and a space layout designed primarily for production. Roughly 80 percent of the footprint will serve the wholesale kitchen, where Ayoub and Lange plan to manufacture bagels for hotels and cafés across Florida. Retail guests will find a small dine-in area and counter service built around a straightforward, classic menu.
Menu and Vision
Ayoub emphasized a focus on fundamentals rather than variety. The shop will offer plain dough bagels only, each topped with classic seeds such as everything, sesame, and salt. Cream cheeses will be limited to a handful of high-quality staples, and breakfast and lunch sandwiches will all be served on bagels.
His personal favorites include a plain bagel with scallion cream cheese and a bacon, egg, and cheese on an everything bagel. “We’re keeping it classic and focused so we can perfect the bagel,” he told Business Debut…