Dive Brief:
- Emerging concept PopUp Bagels has signed 300 franchised units with 15 operators, according to a Monday press release.
- The company, which started in the founder’s backyard as a “pandemic side hustle,” expects to reach 100 locations by the end of 2027. It plans to operate in 10 states: Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, California and Maine.
- This milestone comes just over eight months after the company opened up national franchising. Last September, it hired Tory Barlett, who has worked at Moe’s, Schlotsky’s and Southern Proper Hospitality, to oversee the chain’s rapid expansion.
Dive Insight:
PopUp Bagels, which started in Connecticut, has already begun opening new locations outside the New York Metro Area with its first Boston unit, and anticipated openings this year in Tampa and Orlando, Florida, with a franchisee committed to 30 units in the state. California also will be a big market for the chain, with two franchisees committed to building at least 35 units in Southern California.
The company said its franchising strategy remains focused on “highly vetted, best-in-class operators” to allow for smarter and precise growth.
“We’re partnering with some of the most accomplished operators in the industry, and together we’re building a model rooted in connection, quality, and long-term success,” Bartlett said in a statement. “This isn’t just scale — it’s a smarter way to grow.”
PopUp Bagel locations typically take up 1,100 square feet, and the brand focuses on areas with strong foot traffic within “dynamic neighborhoods,” the company said in an April press release.
With such a large pipeline, the company is also building regional production hubs for its bagels and schmear to ensure consistency across the system. The concept focuses on freshly baked, unsliced bagels that are made for customers to rip and dip. It does not offer sandwiches or use toasters.
PopUp Bagels will face significant competition in the U.S. Even if it succeeds in opening all 300 commitments, it will still be less than half the size of Einstein Bros. Bagels, which has over 700 locations nationwide. Einstein Bros. has also been rapidly expanding, opening new locations in Texas, Georgia, Indiana and Florida within the past few months. In June, Einstein Bros added a lineup of morning mocktails, expanding its beverage offerings.
Call Your Mother, which offers bagels and sandwiches, secured a significant investment in January with plans to rapidly expand beyond its key markets of Washington, D.C., and Denver and into Nashville, Tennessee; Austin, Texas; Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina; and Miami, according to Restaurant Business.
PopUp Bagels franchising facts
Total investment: $312,600 to $884,150
Total investment (if acquiring development rights for a minimum of three shops): $347,600 to $919,150
Initial franchise fee: $35,000
Royalty fee: 6% of weekly gross sales
Source: 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document
