Hey Bagel has signed a lease for a second Seattle location, this time planting its boiling kettles and ovens in West Seattle just north of the Alaska Junction. Founder Andrew Rubinstein is targeting a May 2027 opening date for the new shop, which will bring the same sourdough bagels that built a following in University Village to a neighborhood that hasn't had a standalone bagel shop in more than a decade.
Rubinstein announced the expansion on social media, according to WhatNow Seattle, confirming that Hey Bagel has signed a lease for a storefront just north of the Alaska Junction. An exact address and opening date have not yet been announced through that channel, though westsideseattle.com reports the storefront is planned for 4448 California Ave. SW, inside a newly completed mixed-use building just north of the Alaska Junction. A separate account from It's A Shanda describes the location as being on the corner of Oregon Street and California Avenue.
Why West Seattle, Why Now
Rubinstein told WhatNow Seattle that activity along California Avenue made West Seattle an easy choice, and he said the neighborhood has its own strong community. West Seattle has gone without a standalone bagel shop since June 14, 2015, when Zatz a Better Bagel closed in the Admiral District, the same westsideseattle.com report notes.
Hey Bagel opened its first permanent shop at 4610 Village Court NE in University Village in January 2025, per WhatNow Seattle. The West Seattle outpost is expected to operate much the same way, with Hey Bagel baking bagels and bialys throughout the day and serving them hot with schmear. The chain's bagels use a sourdough-based dough made with organic flour, about half of it sourced from Washington, and while the dough contains no dairy or eggs, the varieties are vegan unless cheese is added.
Same Menu, Different Hours
The station notes that Hey Bagel does not plan to change its menu for West Seattle, and the shop will continue baking fresh bagels and bialys throughout the day just as it does in University Village. One difference will be the clock: the West Seattle location is expected to close by 3 p.m., while the University Village store stays open until 6 p.m.
It's A Shanda reports that the new shop will operate exactly like the U Village one, baking and boiling on-site with the same rip-and-dip menu, and that there will be no slicing and no toasting at either location. Westsideseattle.com adds that the menu features custom schmears, bialys and vegan options alongside the organic sourdough bagels baked continuously throughout the day.
A Crowded, Rising Bagel Scene
Hey Bagel's expansion lands amid what Eater Seattle has called a bona fide bagel scene taking shape across the region, with local chains, sellout pop-ups and regional options multiplying and, as that outlet put it, no signs of the growth slowing down. West Seattle itself is about to get a second new bagel option: Royal Bagel is planning to open at 6045 California Ave. SW in Morgan Junction, according to westsideseattle.com, with the West Seattle Blog reporting a late-year target date for that shop. Royal Bagel is tied to proprietor Eric Brougham, a name chosen as a tribute to his relative Royal Brougham, and the outlet reports the shop will initially offer New York-style bagels and schmear to go before eventually extending its menu. For now, weekend bagel-seekers in the area can also find Loxsmith Bagels at its outpost on 5608 Delridge Way SW, per It's A Shanda.
Awards and an Eastside Tease
Hey Bagel's rise got a boost this year when it won Best Bagel and Best Bagel: Sourdough at the inaugural BagelFest West, according to westsideseattle.com. Those victories earned Rubinstein an invitation to compete at the national New York BagelFest. Hey Bagel says it will provide construction and opening updates on Instagram as the West Seattle project moves forward.
Rubinstein has also teased a possible Eastside location, according to Seattle magazine, though he says the search for the right property is ongoing and he has not yet found the right opportunity. For now, West Seattle bagel fans have a firm target on the calendar and a familiar menu to look forward to once the doors open.
