Philadelphia’s bagel boom is getting another major player, as Call Your Mother, the Washington, D.C.-born bagel and deli chain, moves ahead with plans for a third shop in the city. The latest step in its Philly push builds on an already announced Fishtown debut and at least one Center City site that are in various stages of construction, joining a rapidly growing field of bagel and deli-style breakfast spots.
According to the Philadelphia Business Journal, Call Your Mother now has two locations in progress in Center City, in addition to its upcoming Fishtown shop. Local coverage first caught wind of the expansion back in January, when The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that a corner space at 1500 Frankford Avenue would become the company’s first Pennsylvania outpost this year.
Where They'll Be
The chain’s locations page lists Fishtown at 1500 Frankford Avenue and a Rittenhouse Square address at 262 South 19th Street. CBS Philadelphia reports that the Rittenhouse shop is slated to take over the former Metropolitan Bakery space after that longtime bakery closed, and the chain has labeled both Philly entries with a playful “See you soon‑ISH.” Exact opening dates at each address will depend on how smoothly construction and permitting move along.
Timing And Local Context
The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that Call Your Mother aimed to have the Rittenhouse space built out by the end of the summer, with hopes for an earlier opening in Fishtown, though permitting and build-out schedules can easily shift those targets. The timing drops the brand right into a regional bagel surge, with local reporting tracking a wave of new and expanding names across the area, from PopUp Bagels to neighborhood favorites like Bart’s and Penny’s. For bagel-obsessed Philadelphians, that means more choices, and likely more jockeying for those prime weekend-morning spots in line.
What They Bring
Call Your Mother has built a devoted following around hand‑rolled bagels, house‑cured fish and inventive sandwiches, a combination that helped land the shop in Bon Appétit’s roundup of standout bagel makers across the country. Founders Andrew Dana and Daniela Moreira started the business at farmers markets in Washington, D.C., before turning it into a multi-location operation. In January, PhillyVoice noted that the couple teased their Philadelphia plans in a social media video, setting off early buzz among local carb fans.
Neighborhood Reaction
In Rittenhouse, the early response has been mostly positive, even among those who knew the address in its previous life. Metropolitan Bakery co‑founder Wendy Born told CBS Philadelphia she believes the former bakery is “in the best hands imaginable.” Call Your Mother has said it wants to function as a neighborhood staple, and its Philadelphia rollout will test whether a multi-city brand can cultivate the same kind of long-term community ties that legacy local bakeries enjoyed in those storefronts.
For now, details and official opening dates are still in flux, and plans may shift as permits are approved and construction wraps up. What is clear is that Philly’s already packed bagel scene is about to get a little more crowded, and a lot more colorful.
