Ardmore just got a new morning ritual. PopUp Bagels opened its first Philadelphia-area shop Friday at Suburban Square, dropping the chain’s viral “grip, rip and dip” bagel format right onto the Main Line. The compact storefront, in the former Juice Press space, trades traditional sandwiches for oven-fresh, unsliced bagels sold in bundled packs, and local operators say the Ardmore debut is the start of a broader rollout across the Philly suburbs.
According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, the shop celebrated its opening with festivities from 8 to 11 a.m. The store is run by franchisee Brian Harrington of Seeded Capital Partners, which holds rights to multiple area locations. Harrington told the paper that Suburban Square was picked for its heavy foot traffic and proximity to the Ardmore train station, and he said the shop is expected to employ about 10 to 12 people.
Grip, Rip and Dip: What to Expect
PopUp keeps things tight and focused: bagels, coffee and rotating tubs of “schmear” for dipping. According to 6abc, bagels are sold hot and whole in packs of three, six or 12. Specialty schmears range from hot-pink strawberry chocolate to vodka sauce, with fresh trays of bagels coming out roughly every eight to 10 minutes. The brand encourages customers to preorder for openings and limited-run flavors to avoid sellouts.
Why Suburban Square?
Per the listing from Suburban Square, PopUp Bagels sits at 10 Coulter Ave., directly across from Shake Shack and adjacent to the Ardmore train station. Landlords highlight that spot as a prime funnel for morning commuters and shoppers, and the center’s directory shows the shop tucked into a busy cluster of salons, fitness studios and other retailers.
Where PopUp Fits in the National Push
PopUp Bagels has been scaling quickly with help from outside investment. The company raised $8 million in 2023, according to FinSMEs, and later closed a larger round that The Philadelphia Inquirer reports was led by growth investor Stripes and shifted majority ownership. The company has since built out an executive team focused on franchising and expects to open multiple new stores across Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware in the coming months, according to QSR Magazine.
On its website, PopUp Bagels urges customers to preorder to avoid sellouts and to check daily schmear listings before heading over. For details on hours, inventory and the weekly schmear schedule at Ardmore, the company directs customers to its preorder page and the Suburban Square store listing.
