Another Johnson County bagel store is open, serving coffee and sandwiches
Johnson County is officially up one bagel store.
The newest shop is in Olathe, 295 N. Parker St., west of Kansas 7 Highway and across the street from Red Crow Brewing Co. Einstein Bros opened a few weeks ago, selling bagel sandwiches, flavored bagels with schmears, cold brew and more.
If its recent late Thursday morning traffic is any indication, Olathe residents are excited to have a spot so far west. Lines formed at the location as a steady stream of customers ordered from a choice of green chile, apple cinnamon, cheesy hashbrown, sesame seed and other bagel flavors.
It’s the ninth area location for Colorado-based Einstein, which now has five in Johnson County. Its closest store is at 8700 W. 135th St. in Overland Park.
The chain’s sandwich options include the farmhouse (bacon, ham, cheddar, country pepper schmear on a cheesy hashbrown gourmet bagel), and the all-nighter (double egg and American cheese, smoky chipotle aioli on a cheesy hashbrown gourmet bagel).
Lunch items include a pizza bagel, and turkey, bacon and avocado sandwich.
Einstein Bros first opened in 1995, after Kansas City’s own Bagel & Bagel brand, as well as two other national bagel companies, formed Progressive Bagel Concepts Inc.
The company converted its combined stores into Einstein Bros. Progressive’s spokesman said at the time that the aim was to make an instant national brand.
The Kansas City area once had 22 Bagel & Bagel stores. Today, Einstein Bros is part of Bagel Brands — which is owned by Panera Brands — and includes Bruegger’s Bagels, Noah’s Bagels and Manhattan Bagel.
Meanwhile, another Johnson County bagel store is gearing up to open, promising an “authentic” Jersey bagel.
The Grateful Bagel (a play on owner Darryl Hall’s favorite band, The Grateful Dead) is opening soon at 8913 W. 135th St. in Overland Park. Previously, Hall estimated it would open in late May or early June.
It’ll be “a true bagel store,” Hall said.
Meanwhile, local chain Meshuggah Bagels boasts four locations, including one in Overland Park. Luca Bagel opened in Brookside last year at 633 E. 63rd St.