The “Coming Soon” sign hung outside Borough Bagels in Doylestown for more than six months. When it was taken down on Jan. 3 and replaced by a “Now Open” sign, the customers were ready.
“We were swamped,” said Dave Hendri, who owns the town’s newest restaurant with his wife, Jennifer.
They are lining up for freshly baked water bagels, made New York-style in a variety of flavors, and an assortment of cream cheeses made on the premises.
They also are coming for muffins, cookies, fresh chicken, egg, whitefish and tuna salad on bagels and the region’s own upscale La Colombe coffee, served traditional and cold brew. Soon they will also be able to choose acai bowls made with a choice of fruits, granola and peanut butter.
Hendri became an experienced business owner as a Rita’s Water Ice franchisee; after owning several he decided he wanted to do something different. He tried to buy a bagel shop, and when that didn’t work out he set about opening his own.
First, he found an expert to teach him how to make New York-style bagels, driving two hours in early morning to make it to his lessons.
Along with learning to make bagels he became an expert at mixing cream cheese to create a changing array of flavors including veggie, scallion, lox, sun-dried tomato, bacon cheddar, olive, cinnamon apple raisin, walnut raisin and cheddar jalapeno.
While customers have been exclaiming over his bagels, Hendri said they also are excited about his choice in coffee. Familiar to coffee drinkers in Philadelphia, La Colombe has been headquartered there since it opened in 1994.
Its flagship Rittenhouse Square store serves an average of 1,500 cups a day.
Borough Bagels customers have a choice of regular brew, draft latte, pure black and pure black and tan. Cold brew coffee is a customer favorite and additional coffee choices will be coming soon.
Hendri shares credit for the immediate success of Borough Bagels with his wife and staff. He says the well-trained team understands that people want getting their food to be quick and easy.
“It’s all about teamwork,” he said.
BOROUGH BAGELS
132 Veterans Lane, Doylestown
267- 454-7258, Facebook
Hours:
6 a.m.-3 p.m. daily.
Cost:
Bagels with toppings $1.60-$3.49, salad sandwiches (chicken, tuna and egg) $7.99, acai bowls (coming soon) $7.50.
Featured cream cheeses:
veggie, scallion, lox, sun-dried tomato, bacon cheddar, olive, cinnamon apple raisin, walnut raisin and cheddar jalapeno.
Featured coffee:
La Colombe.
susan.yeske@gmail.com
