PopUp Bagels

PopUp Bagels
Founded2020 (2020) in Westport, Connecticut
Founder
  • Adam Goldberg
  • Jeff Lewis
Number of locations
50 stores (2026)
Owner
Websitepopupbagels.com

PopUp Bagels is an American boutique bagel franchise started by Adam Goldberg and Jeff Lewis in Westport, Connecticut in 2020. Originally a pop-up for Connecticut locals, it has now established retail and franchise locations along the East Coast, as well as in the states of California, Nevada, Tennessee, Texas and Illinois.

History

Adam Goldberg and Jeff Lewis started baking as a pandemic hobby, switching from sourdough to bagels due to the heat of the summer. Goldberg gave away the bagels to his friends and family but after a few months of steady increased demand for the bagels, he decided to make it a business where customers pre-order their bagels and cream cheese in orders of three, six, or twelve.

Goldberg started with a subscription service, mainly serving bagels by the dozen for $38. The service offered familiar and novel rotational cream cheese flavors—or schmears—such as pesto butter or cacio e pepe. Early on, they worked with local businesses to make new flavors. According to Goldberg, ideas for flavors have also come from employees, customers, and partnerships with major brands.

The company received a lot of attention on social media leading to funding from private investors, including some celebrities. In 2023, private equity company Stripes acquired a majority stake. In April 2026, Tiger Global Management invested an undisclosed amount at a valuation of $300 million, with plans to open 300 stores.

References

  1. ↑ "Locations". PopUp Bagels. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
  2. 1 2 "How PopUp Bagels went from a home kitchen to being funded by Paul Rudd, Michael Phelps, Michael Strahan, and JJ Watt". www.nrn.com. Retrieved February 17, 2025.
  3. ↑ Krishna, Priya (April 29, 2022). "A New York Bagel From an Unexpected Borough: Connecticut". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 17, 2025.
  4. ↑ First, Devra (February 5, 2025). "A visit to PopUp Bagels, very viral and now open in Boston". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
  5. ↑ Cullen, Margie. "Rip and dip: The viral bagel store PopUp Bagels comes to the Seaport in Boston". The Patriot Ledger. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
  6. 1 2 Slaughter, Carece (March 27, 2025). "Adam Goldberg: The Man Behind the PopUp Bagel Revolution". Resident Magazine. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  7. ↑ Phillips, Grace (January 29, 2025). "Column: PopUp Bagels have arrived in Seaport. Are they worth the wait?". The Huntington News. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
  8. ↑ Halpern, Joe (August 13, 2025). "PopUp Bagels Targets Big Growth With PE Owner, Celebrity Investors". franchisetimes.com. Retrieved September 15, 2026.
  9. ↑ Gorrivan, Charles (April 10, 2026). "Tiger Global Backs PopUp Bagels at $300 Million Valuation".{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)