Pop-up Bagels popped up in Westport during COVID.
Adam Goldberg began baking sourdough bread, then moved on to bagels.
He sold them to friends, then friends of friends. It was an “if you know, you know” business.
Suddenly, PopUp Bagels exploded — to the rest of Fairfield County, then New York. The upstart from the ‘burbs won awards in — are youse sittin’ down? — Brooklyn.
Today, Goldberg’s little bagel business annoounces a huuuuge expansion. They’re going from 13 stores on the East Coast, to 300 nationally.
We’re talkin’ Atlanta, Nashville, Orlando — cities that think bagels are made of cardboard.
“We’re bringing our stores to places where people don’t necessarily think of themselves as ‘bagel people’,” Goldberg told Fast Company. “We’re introducing bagels into their routines.”
They’re working with 15 franchisees,each of whom will run multiple locations. PopUp will make the dough regionally.
PopUp Bagel’s tagline is “Not famous, but known.”
Sounds like it’s time for a new one.
Click here for the full Fast Company story.
Founder Adam Goldberg (right) with CEO Troy Bartlett.
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“06880” reader Michael Szeto writes: “I was taking my dog out to our mailbox at 4:30 yesterday afternoon, when I saw a coyote on my front lawn on Minute Man Hill.
“Fortuantely, I pulled our dog back into the house. The encounter could have been very bad.
“The past 2 nights we were awakened by blood-curdling coyote howls, between midnight and 2 a.m. Our dog couldn’t stop barking.
“There is so much uncontrolled wild life on our properties. I’m not sure what we can do about it. We can’t even enjoy our backyards without fearing an attack on our dog by coyotes.”
Minute Man Hill coyote. (Photo/Michael Szeto)
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A few dozen members of Staples High School’s Class of 1995 gathered for their 30th reunion Saturday, at the Saugatuck Rowing Club.
They don’t look — um, “close to 50” — do they? (Hat tip: Laura Loffredo)
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Yesterday, VFW Post 399 celebrated the installation of a 120-year-old 23-karat gold leaf eagle, on its flag pole.
The gold bird was regilted by Marty Rogers, and hung by Bert Porzio’s tree company.
Bob Rogers and Frank Veno organized the event.
(Photo/David Tetenbaum)
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Speaking of patriotism: All around Westport, American flags wave proudly.
Except this one, on Post Road East. It’s been stuck for days in a tree branch, says Bob Weingarten, and cannot wave at all.
(Photo/Bob Weingarten)
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Longtime Westport resident Richard “Chick” Hayden died peacefully at his home in Rye, New Hampshire on July 5. He was 89.
The Duluth native graduated from St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota with a degree in English. He spent nearly 40 years at IBM, retiring as director of industry relations.
In retirement Chick worked with Cross Roads House of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, including a term as president.
Chick was father to 8 children with his first wife, Jane Alma Hofmann. Though they divorced, they remained lifelong friends until her death. Chick found love again, and in 1983 married Caroline Poor Cilley. They moved from Westport to New Hampshire in 1996, settling in a 1735 farmhouse with an attached barn that they turned into a hub for get-togethers for their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
His family says, “Having endured his own hardships, he was ever sensitive to the trials of others, providing wisdom, compassion and love (both soft and tough) in whatever measures needed.
Chick is survived by his wife Caroline, children Kristin, Kimberly, William, Michael, Patrick, Anthony and Kathleen; step-children Caroline Sumrall, Charles Cilley and Doug Cilley; 22 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his daughter Mary.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in Chick’s name may be made to the Cross Roads House.
Richard “Chick” Hayden
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We receive deer photos every day, for our “Westport … Naturally” feature.
Fawns — not so much.
But they’re everywhere these days. Diane Johnson spotted this pair, off Imperial Avenue.
(Photo/Diane Johnson)
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And finally … on this date in 1901, actor/singer/saxohphonist Rudy Vallee was born. He died in 1986.
(Another Monday — the start of another week of “06880” Roundups. If you enjoy this daily feature of news, events, photos and random “stuff,” please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
