A new PopUp Bagels is ‘popping up’ in Ardmore today
Main Line residents who enjoy bagels are in for a treat.
A new PopUp Bagels franchise opens Friday, March 20, at Suburban Square in Ardmore. The bagel chain that’s been drawing crowds since it began in Connecticut is opening its first Philadelphia-area location.
And who better to run it than longtime restaurant entrepreneur Brian Harrington?
“We’re super excited,” said Harrington, 54. “It’s a very simple concept. It’s hot bagels right out of the oven every four or five minutes, delicious schmears on the side. We don’t serve sandwiches or sliced bagels. It’s just great hot bagels right out of the oven.”
“It’s just really fun,” he said. “Great vibes in the shop. It’s a top-notch product.”
PopUp Bagels offers bagels boiled and baked on the premises in five different flavors: plain, poppy, sesame, salt, and everything.
“The schmears are plain cream cheese, scallion, salted butter, and for a limited time, every two weeks, we switch the butter and cream cheese for limited-time varieties,” he said.
The chain’s slogan is “Grip, rip, and dip.”
PopUp Bagels began in 2020 in Westport, Conn. in Adam Goldberg’s kitchen and expanded from there as its popularity grew. Some of its investors included celebrities Paul Rudd, Michael Phelps, Michael Strahan, and JJ Watt.
As a Philadelphia native, Harrington said, “I understand the unique tastes of the Philadelphia consumer. I think PopUp is going to be warmly welcomed and a big hit in the Philly area.”
“For our Philadelphia opening, we’re doing a South Philly long hot (peppers) cream cheese, and we have one of our most popular butters, which we do once or twice a year, cinnamon brown sugar butter,” said Harrington. “I’m a Philadelphia native, and I live in Montgomery County, in Wyndmoor, and I’ve been a shopper at Suburban Square,” he said.
He noted that Suburban Square is a great location in downtown Ardmore with lots of parking.
“It’s the center of the suburbs, of the Main Line,” said Harrington. “It’s easily accessible. It checks all the boxes for us.”
Harrington has been in the restaurant business for 25 years with restaurants in Philadelphia, like City Tap, and other East Coast cities along the I-95 corridor. As such, his company is called Table 95.
Harrington and his wife, Molly, have been married for 26 years and have four sons, all of whom went to LaSalle College High School, with the youngest now a senior. His older sons are in college.
PopUp Bagels are sold in bags for take out, he said. There are some outdoor tables near the store. PopUp also serves coffee, cold brew, water, some juices, and lemonade.
The new hot spot will be open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., seven days a week.
