When Alex Brandwein went to graduate school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, he was surprised that there were no authentic New York-style bagel shops nearby.
So, he ended up creating his own.
Other WRAL Top Stories
Brandwein, originally from New York, spent eight years working in investment banking before going to UNC to earn an MBA.
When he got to Chapel Hill in 2018, he fell in love with the area and decided it was where he wanted to open his own business.
"For me, bagels are more than just delicious. They're a comfort food and something that brings everyone together, Brandwein said on this week's WRAL Out and About Podcast.
Brandwein's Bagels started out with small pop-up events before its brick-and-mortar location opened at 505 W Rosemary St. in August 2020. The shop recently announced plans to expand into the former Bread and Butter Bakery space nearby.
"The opportunity to expand, and that location just seemed so perfect that we were able to put together a deal," Brandwein said. "We're really excited to expand on Rosemary Street and continue to grow our operations and expand our menu."
That menu expansion will include more deli options and catering.
"We definitely want to add salads to the menu, and definitely want to add all sorts of different meats and sandwiches," Brandwein said.
Brandwein's Bagels is open 6:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily. On Fridays, the shop donates 15 percent of proceeds to a local nonprofit.