Backyard Bagel Kickstarter & more Seattle bagel news
Backyard Bagel Kickstarter & more Seattle bagel news
Let's get caught up on the latest Seattle bagel scene news and updates
Welcome to It’s A Shanda, one Northeastern Jew’s quest to find a decent bagel in Seattle (and beyond). Along with free bagel reviews every Sunday, we also offer bonus posts (like this one) each week. If you’re already subscribed, I hope you’ll consider upgrading to a paid subscription! Thank you for reading.
On the heels of one Seattle bagel place using Kickstarter to kickstart their brick-and-mortar dreams, another one has…kickstarted, too.
Back in March, we had the chance to break the news that Aaron’s Bagels was becoming Backyard Bagel and opening their own shop in Fremont. Now, owners Aaron and Emily Emas have launched a Kickstarter campaign to help get the space up to speed.
“A few months ago, we had the opportunity to purchase a brand new storefront that another small pastry business built out but were not able to finish the project,” Aaron told It’s a Shanda. “The store is wonderful but it was meant to make delicate pastries, not hardy bagels. We have just two months to turn it into a bagel shop so we can open in July.”
The Kickstarter goal is $20,000 and they’re already over halfway there. Perks for backers range from a sticker ($5 pledge) to a tote bag ($35) to in-person bagel-making classes ($175) to a weekly bagel and schmear for a year ($500).
Emas says that the Fremont community has already been hyped about their arrival.
“We’re so excited to be in Fremont. The people we’ve met are wonderful and we’re in great company with the other restaurants and shops in the area. Everyone in the neighborhood has been so welcoming too. People have literally chanted ‘bagels bagels bagels!’ as they walked by (true story). We’re just trying to give the people what they want and we’re so close to making it happen!”
Now I’m a little disappointed no one has ever chanted “bagels, bagels, bagels” at me.
Check out the Kickstarter here. I’m a big fan of the Create a Flavor of the Week pledge reward ($250). Quite a few people have done it already, so I can’t wait to see what they come up with. My problem is that, if given the choice, I’d still probably just create an everything bagel (WITH SALT, AS GOD INTENDED).
There’s a lot more going on around the Seattle bagel scene (and beyond). Paid subscribers can read the rest of the latest news below…
Mt. Bagel has made its mark by focusing on simple orders and basics. However, they’re playing around with some new options as well.
“Summertime additions are on their way to the bagel shop,” they said on their Instagram channel. “Hint: we bought an ice maker and a toddy brewer:) Cold and caffeinated bevs coming soon once we get our recipe dialed. We’ve also got your Q2/Q3 fashion covered. Super duper high fashion merch currently on its way to the shop. Info and pics as soon as they arrive.”
A couple of weeks back, Local Lens Seattle’s Kelly Hanson made the rounds at a bunch of Seattle bagels shops. She stopped by Bagel Oasis, Rachel’s, Oxbow, Westman’s, and Loxsmith to sample their wares.
The Salmonberry Goods guys are well on their way to opening their own bakery and grocery in Sunset Hill. They recently hit their GoFundMe goal and are hard at work remaking the Sunset Hill Green Market. I’ll check in soon to see if bagels will be part of the offerings and how that might impact their farmers’ market and pop-up appearances.
Oxbow turned two years old last week and celebrated by doing, what else, making bagels.
“I’d be fooling if I said that bagels and pizza are the most important thing in the world - there are clearly bigger fish to fry - but all of our staff and customers coming in each day makes me believe that the work we are doing has some meaning,” read their IG post. “So thank you. Very excited to see all the things that happen in year three.”
The Seattle Restaurant Podcast recently featured a couple of bagel shops, with Zylberschtein’s Josh Grunig and Backyard Bagel’s Aaron Emas making appearances.
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