Barry Bagels has opened a new café at 2547 Lorain Ave. in Ohio City, moving into the former Dave's Cosmic Subs space right next door to Boaz. The shop serves traditional boiled-and-baked bagels, a variety of cream cheese schmears, breakfast sandwiches, deli sandwiches, salads, and soups including matzo ball soup.
Barry Bagels' first location was in Sylvania, Ohio, in 1972.
That local growth pattern lines up with the company's broader history. Barry Bagels was actually founded in 1972 in Sylvania, Ohio, by Detroit native Barry Greenblatt and partner Peter Johnson, originally under the name The Bagel Place, before the Barry Bagels name was adopted in 1979, according to Barry Bagels' own company history. The business remained a small family operation with five locations until 2015; it began franchising in 2014 under CEO Jim Nusbaum, as reported by The Lantern.
Barry Bagels' Expansion
The company has expanded in recent years, with plans for many more locations.
By December 2025, Barry Bagels had reached 104 locations open, under construction, or committed under development agreements across seven states, backed by multi-unit deals in Texas and Iowa, according to the Quad Cities Business Journal. Cleveland Scene reports the chain currently has two dozen locations overall.
From Suburban Strip Centers to City Storefronts
The chain has also targeted high-foot-traffic spots elsewhere in Ohio: The Lantern reported in April 2026 that a location at 1881 N. Pearl St. on the Ohio State University campus was expected to open in May, with late-night weekend window service designed for college student foot traffic.
The Ohio City address itself has some retail history of its own. Cleveland Scene reports that Barry Bagels occupies a former Dave's Cosmic Subs space.
Bagel Brands Eye Greater Cleveland
Barry Bagels' arrival also fits a wider pattern of bagel brands eyeing Greater Cleveland for expansion. Connecticut-based sourdough chain PopUp Bagels announced its first regional location in Woodmere in August, Hoodline previously reported, underscoring how the region's breakfast and bakery scene has become a target for growing brands well beyond the homegrown shops that built its reputation.
