Dozens of people were lining a Lincoln Park block early Friday morning, hoping to snag fresh bagels right out of the oven at PopUp Bagels, an east coast favorite bagel shop making its debut in Chicago.
The small-batch bagel shop, known for its “grip, rip and dip,” method, held a soft opening this week. It’s grand opening starts at 7 a.m. Friday, with a special Chicago-style schmear while supplies lasts.
As part of a collaboration with Portillo’s Hot Dogs, PopUp Bagels will have a special “Giardiniera Schmear” available . Garrett Popcorn will also be handing out “goodies” to those waiting in line at the opening.
Other limited-time offers for the grand opening include a cake butter schmear and a vanilla berry butter.
The shop only has a handful of bagel flavors: plain, everything, poppyseed, salt and sesame, with a rotating menu of traditional and special schmears.
“Simple menu, exceptional product. We focus on the essence of the perfect bagel, a product so good it stands on its own,” the shop says on its website.
As people lined up for their first taste, the new store’s founder Adam Goldberg clarified exactly how their bagels should be eaten.
“There’s bagels, and then there’s bagels. No scooping, no toasting, no sandwiches here,” he said. “Just hot and fresh bagels coming out of the oven every five minutes.”
The popular chain first announced plans to open its first-ever location in Chicago last month, with other stores in at least 11 other states, according to its website.
PopUp Bagels is located at 2321 N. Lincoln Ave.
