After a pair days of sentimental opening, Ugly Bagel will open arduous this Wednesday, Nov. 13, at 65 Arcade Alley downtown. The brand new “hospitality-driven fast-casual” idea is the brainchild of business vets Jeff Crabiel and Jake Strang, who’ve beforehand labored collectively in hospitality and culinary at The Westin and the Bobby Lodge.
Slightly than obsessing over making the peerlessly clean, shiny and comely egg-washed bagels, Ugly Bagels embraces the restaurant’s title by hand-rolling its bagels to create actually distinctive treats. Not solely will company be capable to watch bagels being created via a “rolling window,” however prospects may also avail themselves of a “bagel concierge” who will lead them via the ordering course of.
These devoted workforce members are an vital a part of Ugly Bagel’s perspective towards customer support and high-touch interplay with bagel lovers. The concierges will help with cell orders and at self-checkout kiosks the place expertise meets culinary creativity. Personally, I’m excited to see how this can all work, as a result of providing virtually limitless customization choices jogs my memory of standing at the back of the road at Which Wich ready impatiently whereas prospects frequently froze up on the counter when confronted by so many decisions.
Seize-and-go is the foundation of the service mannequin, however prospects may also choose from a plethora of decisions, together with vegan choices and a collection of cream cheese and butter mixtures — together with “gentle,” “normal” and “loaded” — to decorate up quite a lot of bagels. The opening menu will even characteristic signature Ugly Bagel sandwiches and a menu of cold and hot drinks together with drip espresso, lattes, teas and sizzling chocolate. Ugly Bagel will provide a collection of non-public branded espresso blends, together with the balanced Uggy’s Mix, daring El Jefe Brew and decaf Cool Beans.
“Hospitality is our bread and butter,” says co-founder Crabiel within the official opening announcement. “We’ve poured our hearts into Ugly Bagel, and we’re past thrilled to see our imaginative and prescient lastly come to life. Our aim was to create a fast-casual idea that matches the busy power of downtown, catering to employees, locals and guests alike. Partnering with The Arcade is a real honor, and we’re excited to be a part of Nashville’s rising bagel revolution. We will not wait to unfold pleasure via life’s easy moments, one bagel at a time.”
Guests can count on a daily roster of bagel and cream cheese flavors, plus month-to-month drops of particular gadgets. For its opening month, Ugly Bagel will provide gingerbread bagels and cranberry walnut bagels as specials, together with a sizzling cocoa cream cheese mix and a sage and onion schmear.
To introduce themselves to downtown, the Ugly Bagel crew will kick off their first “Ugly Hour” promotion. Throughout grand-opening week — from Monday via Sunday, 5 to 7 p.m. — company can choose up two free bagels whereas provides final. Afterward, take pleasure in a particular each day promotion from 5 to 7 p.m., that includes 50 % off all bagels, spreads and low whereas provides final. Along with being beneficiant, this promotion is a approach to make sure that the store makes room for freshly made merchandise each day as a substitute of serving day-old bagels.
The Arcade is simply the primary in a deliberate checklist of areas, together with a second Ugly Bagel deliberate for Wedgewood-Houston. We’ll hold you posted as that opening date approaches.
