Bagel-starved West Seattleites may finally have something to toast. A new shop, Royal Bagel, appears to be headed for Morgan Junction, with neighbors spotting a fresh sign in the window of the former Little Prague space on California Avenue. The proprietor says the plan is to serve New York-style bagels and schmear to go, with a hopeful opening sometime late this year.
According to West Seattle Blog, proprietor Eric Boughman confirmed that Royal Bagel plans to take over the space at 6045 California Ave SW. He explained that the name pays tribute to his relative Royal Brougham and reiterated that the shop "will offer New York style bagels and schmear to-go." Boughman added that the operation expects to build out the menu over time as opening plans come together.
Space Has Fresh History
The storefront at 6045 California Ave SW has been busy this year. Little Prague European Bakery quietly returned to the spot in February, and the bakery's website still lists the Morgan Junction address among its locations. As reported by a string of short-lived concepts, the block has seen several ventures come and go in quick succession.
West Seattle's Bagel Drought
For nearly a decade, West Seattle has been without a dedicated bagel shop, ever since Zatz A Better Bagel shut its doors in 2015. West Seattle Blog chronicled the closure at the time, and since then the neighborhood has had to make do with bagels as a side act at cafes and bakeries rather than as the main event.
Why The Name Matters
The "Royal" in Royal Bagel is not about crowns or tiaras. It is intended as a nod to Royal Brougham, the longtime Seattle Post-Intelligencer sportswriter and philanthropist. HistoryLink details Brougham's decades of work in local sports journalism and the public spaces that bear his name, which helps explain why a hometown salute might resonate with longtime Seattle residents.
Boughman told West Seattle Blog he expects to open late this year and plans to share more details as things firm up. In the meantime, neighbors can keep an eye on the California Avenue storefront for permits, menu teases, and, eventually, the official date when those New York-style bagels start rolling out.
