A two-story bagel and coffee shop is rising at the corner of Kings Highway and West Tomlin Station Road in Mickleton, and the company behind it is already looking to fill the kitchen and counter. Lokel Bagel & Coffee Co. is aiming for a mid-November soft opening, and it has begun hiring for full- and part-time positions as construction nears completion.
The 1,536-square-foot building, located at 782 Kings Highway in Mickleton, is designed with an enclosed, two-story bagel and coffee shop on one side and open-air casual dining areas on both the lower and upper levels on the other, according to 42 Freeway. Reporter Mark Matthews visited the construction site on October 5th and found the roadside sign for the new shop already installed. The company says it plans to bring a modern, hand-rolled bagel bakery and espresso bar to East Greenwich and the surrounding communities.
What the Building Will Look Like
An architect's rendering of the project shows the left half of the building dedicated to the indoor bagel and coffee shop, with the right side featuring a two-story outdoor deck, the outlet's earlier report noted. Access in and out of the shop appears to be planned from Kings Highway. The project first moved through the East Greenwich Planning Board in September 2024, where it was approved for a two-story building intended to support an ice cream shop and café offering grab-and-go items such as breakfast sandwiches, bagels, baked goods, coffee and ice cream.
The project’s review took place within a local system where planning and zoning are handled by the same body: East Greenwich says its Unified Land Use Board oversees both functions. The township lists regular board meetings on the third Tuesday of each month and posts planning agendas and master-plan documents online, providing residents a continuing forum for land-use questions beyond a project’s initial approval.
Construction on the site began in March 2026. By the time of an earlier site visit, construction fencing and earth-moving equipment had been mapped out around the property, with much of the land appearing cleared and flattened ahead of the build-out.
Who Lokel Is Looking to Hire
The hiring announcement lists openings for shift leads, line cooks and bakers, and baristas and cashiers, spanning both full- and part-time schedules. The company says it is looking for hospitality, multitasking and communication skills, along with a desire to help build a community bagel brand. Previous experience in a fast-casual restaurant is preferred, though not required.
The business name is tied to a New Jersey company, LOKEL BAGELS LLC, which filed a federal trademark application for “LOKEL BAGEL & COFFEE CO.” on February 3, 2025. The application identifies the mark for restaurant services, including coffee shop and café services featuring locally inspired menu items. That trademark filing offers a glimpse of the planned brand positioning, while the hiring notice points to the hands-on bakery, counter and café roles needed to launch it.
An online application is still being developed, but prospective hires can reach out directly in the meantime. Per the report, applicants can email General Manager Jen to receive the updated application once it is ready.
A Growing Customer Base Nearby
The Mickleton location sits in an area the outlet describes as home to established neighborhoods, new homes and a significant employment area within a short drive. A large housing development is already underway along Kings Highway to the southwest, next to Kingsway Regional High School in Gloucester County. Matthews estimated the surrounding land use as roughly 60 percent farmland and 40 percent housing developments, with Route 322 leading west toward a warehouse district approaching Interstate 295.
The broader township has been adding residents: East Greenwich’s population estimate reached 12,610 in July 2025, up 7.7% from its 2020 estimate base, a trend that adds context to the area’s new housing and demand for nearby services. The U.S. Census Bureau’s latest QuickFacts also puts the township’s 2020–2024 owner-occupied housing rate at 98.6%, underscoring the area’s largely homeowner-based residential market.
The site sits about three miles north of downtown Swedesboro, placing the future bagel shop within reach of several surrounding towns as new rooftops continue to fill in around it. With a soft opening targeted for mid-November, the next few weeks should show whether the building's interior work keeps pace with the hiring push already underway.
