My alarm went off at 6 a.m. Thursday morning, and for once, waking up early felt justified. By the time I arrived at Suniland Shopping Center along U.S. 1 and Southwest 112th Street in Pinecrest around 7 a.m., a line had already formed outside the new H&H Bagels, stretching past the storefront and pouring onto the sidewalk. Blue and white balloons framed the entrance, gently bobbing above a crowd that waited patiently, quietly buzzing with anticipation.
There was no chaos, just quiet excitement. Pinecrest families, early commuters, and longtime bagel devotees (especially those with New York roots) stood peacefully in line, many clearly prepared for the wait. Having covered H&H Bagels’ first Florida opening in Boca Raton back in October 2024, I knew to expect a big turnout. Still, seeing a full-on morning frenzy in Pinecrest felt surreal.
The First Opening of Its Kind in Pinecrest
Pinecrest has never really been a “line outside before sunrise” kind of place. Better yet, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a line form outside a door for a restaurant in my 33 years of living here.
I was born and raised in Pinecrest, and for most of my life, the suburb was defined by its spacious homes (now mega mansions), top-tier schools, and endless youth sports schedules rather than destination dining. It was always beautiful, lush, and calm — sometimes almost too calm. Up until a few years ago, the food scene leaned predictable and more practical than exciting…