H&H Bagels, the New York bagel counter famous enough to get name-checked on both Seinfeld and Sex and the City, is officially rolling into Chicago this week. The chain is opening its first Windy City storefront in Fulton Market at 164 N. Peoria St., promising early-morning bagels and breakfast sandwiches for West Loop commuters and office workers. Given the brand’s reputation for kettle-boiled chew and the long lines that have formed at other recent openings, it would be no surprise to see a crowd out front.
Calling the Chicago debut “a major milestone for us,” H&H CEO Jay Rushin is leaning into the moment as the company plants its flag in one of the city’s busiest dining districts. The Fulton Market shop is scheduled to open this Thursday, and the first 250 customers will score tote bags and H&H gift cards, according to NBC Chicago.
H&H’s own site lists a grand-opening for “this Thursday” and frames Fulton Market as part of a broader nationwide rollout. According to H&H Bagels, the company sticks to an “artisanal water bagel method,” proofing and kettle-boiling dough in New York water, then finishing the bake on site so Chicago customers get the same classic New York-style chew.
Menu and hours
The Fulton Market menu is set to mirror the New York original. Diners can expect staples like the Classic Bacon, Egg and Cheese and the Nova Salmon with “the works,” along with flavored schmears and bagel varieties ranging from plain to jalapeño cheddar. NBC Chicago reports the shop will be open daily from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., clearly targeting both the morning rush and lunchtime crowd. The company says bagels are baked on site throughout the morning so customers are not stuck with the last lonely one in the bin.
From Upper West Side to a national rollout
H&H started on Manhattan’s Upper West Side in 1972 and has spent the past several years in expansion mode, eyeing major markets beyond New York. Eater Chicago and other trade outlets have chronicled the brand’s growth and its use of a bake-and-finish model to scale up while still serving what it pitches as a New York-style bagel.
What this means for Fulton Market
Chicago’s bagel landscape has been heating up, and H&H’s arrival adds a marquee New York import to the West Loop mix. Time Out Chicago has pointed out that nearby indie bagel shops could prove to be tough competition, but for now H&H is simply the latest in a wave of national and local concepts staking out space in Fulton Market. If opening-day lines snake down Peoria, it will fit neatly into the pattern that tends to follow a big East Coast name into a new city.
For anyone planning to line up early, the company’s locations page and other materials outline grand-opening promotions and ordering options through the H&H app. Per H&H Bagels, customers can expect plenty of early-morning activity when doors open this Thursday at 164 N. Peoria St., with regular service continuing afterward.
