PopUp Bagels, the viral bagel chain that bills itself as not famous but known, is rolling into Lafayette this fall and taking over the former Taco Bell downtown. The new shop is slated for the high-visibility corner at 3501 Mount Diablo Blvd, where renderings show PopUp's logo stepping in for the retired bell arch, setting up a pretty noticeable shift in the morning landscape for commuters and families.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, landlord Keith Dudum of Lafayette Land Co. confirmed PopUp Bagels as the new tenant at the address, with an opening targeted for this fall. Dudum told the paper he passed on other national suitors in favor of PopUp and stressed that he wants to preserve the building's historic look. The Chronicle also reported that the Taco Bell shut down in January and that the PopUp signage in the renderings appears to cover the original arch.
Local TV quickly jumped on the story. KTVU FOX 2 ran a short segment today flagging Lafayette as one of PopUp's newest markets. The piece aired as a local business item and helped blast the news across East Bay morning scrolls and breakfast group chats.
PopUp itself started humbly in 2020 as a backyard pickup operation in Westport, Connecticut, and then scaled at lightning speed. The company raised an $8 million in Series A funding led by Stripes, according to FinSMEs, and quickly landed in the national food conversation. The New Yorker folded PopUp into what it called a broader bagel renaissance, giving props to the brand's smaller, chewy bagels and its social media reach.
What This Means For Lafayette Mornings
In a downtown that runs lean on space and leans heavily on independent breakfast spots, PopUp's arrival is another national player dropping into a tight ecosystem. Long lines and fast sellouts have been the norm at PopUp openings from Ardmore to Georgetown, a pattern Lafayette residents should probably expect once doors open here. Nearby bagel and coffee shops will likely keep a close eye on preorder windows and limited-edition schmears to see how demand settles over time.
What To Watch Next
On its own website, PopUp leans hard into preorders and its trademarked "Grip, Rip and Dip" ritual, where hot, unsliced bagels are served with rotating schmears meant for tearing and sharing. You can find details on locations and how to reserve your dozen on PopUp Bagels. For Lafayette, there is still plenty of behind-the-scenes work to clear: landlord and tenant buildout, signage permits and health department approvals all have to line up, so that fall debut is more of a goal than a guarantee. Residents will want to watch city planning notices and PopUp's official channels for the final word on opening day.
