PopUp Bagels stands athwart the civilizational slide that occurs when otherwise honorable bagels are sliced, stuffed with excessive ingredients and given twee names. PopUp Bagels proudly abjures bagel sandwiches.
Instead, it undertakes something much more primal: the signature (and federally trademarked) Grip, Rip and Dip. As in gripping a fresh bagel, ripping off a chunk and dipping it in butter or schmear of choice. The maneuver has proved popular, with the viral boutique bagelry expanding to almost 50 locations across 18 states and Washington, D.C., since its founding in 2020 in the backyard of a Connecticut suburb of New York City.
On Aug. 28, folks in the Las Vegas Valley can start getting in their grips, rips and dips as PopUp Bagels opens on East Cactus Avenue in Henderson, its debut Nevada store and the first of seven Silver State locations planned by franchisees Gary Rubenyan and Raffi Babaian.
“We see a lot of opportunity in Nevada, but we’re not looking to rush it,” Rubenyan said in a Wednesday announcement. “Our goal is to grow thoughtfully, get to know the communities we’re entering and build places people genuinely want to come back to.”
Whole and hot
The grand opening celebration will begin at 7 a.m. Aug. 28, featuring a live DJ, branded giveaways and opportunities to win PopUp Bagels merchandise.
The Henderson menu keeps to classic silhouettes. Bagels come in plain, poppy seed, salt, sesame and everything; guests order bagels whole and hot from the oven in bags of three, six, a dozen or 30, with individual bagels added for an extra charge. Salted butter, brown sugar cinnamon butter, and plain and scallion schmears are always available, supplemented by rotating butters and schmears.
Beverages run to coffee, cold brew, juices and iced teas. The shop also offers catering, as well as ordering in advance for pickup. PopUp bagels is at 1685 E. Cactus Ave., Suite 120, Henderson. Visit popupbagels.com and follow @popupbagels on Instagram.
Contact Johnathan L. Wright at [email protected]. Follow @JLWTaste on Instagram.