Boulder's breakfast turf war just picked up a fresh contender. Nederland's favorite Decent Bagel is building a second shop in East Boulder, jumping into a bagel scene already packed with longtime locals and big-name chains.
The new Decent Bagel is under construction inside the Weathervane apartment complex near 55th Street and Arapahoe Avenue, and co-owner Audrey Fritschel told Axios Boulder the team is aiming to open by the end of June. The move pushes the Nederland-born shop farther down the Front Range as it looks for more steady weekday foot traffic.
In Nederland, Decent Bagel built a loyal following with hand-shaped, boiled-and-baked bagels and a tight menu that includes focaccia sandwiches and options like the Jakey Boy, according to the shop's own menu. Decent Bagel and local coverage have emphasized the owners' focus on high-quality ingredients and an East Coast style of bagel-making.
Call Your Mother already in Boulder
The Boulder bagel crowd is not exactly starved for newcomers. Washington, D.C.-born Call Your Mother opened its first Boulder location last fall at the Twenty-Ninth Street Mall, where its pink-and-blue deli vibe has been drawing weekend lines. Call Your Mother’s site confirms the Boulder shop, and coverage of the chain's rapid Colorado growth notes that it first expanded into the state in 2023 and has kept adding locations. BusinessDen reported on the brand's broader expansion.
Plenty of local competition
All of that is landing on top of a crowded existing bagel map. Einstein Bros., Woodgrain Bagels, and Moe's Broadway Bagel sit close to downtown, while food trucks and independents such as Fleishman's work the east Boulder side, according to Axios Boulder. Fleishman's Bagels and Delicatessen runs a well-regarded truck and bills itself as a hand-rolled, boiled-and-baked East Coast-style operation, per Fleishman's Bagels.
What to expect
For Boulderites who lean veggie-forward, the influx might be welcome news. Call Your Mother promotes a wide range of fillings, including plenty of vegetarian choices, while Decent Bagel's recipe and local sourcing are meant to appeal to diners who care about where their ingredients come from. Call Your Mother and local coverage suggest more variety, and probably longer lines, are headed for Boulder mornings. Decent Bagel's owners say they are excited to support growth across the Front Range and see more locations in their future.
