Pop-up bagel store opens in Cohoes

COHOES – The doors opened at 7 a.m. on the day of the soft opening Wednesday, and the bagels sold out by 9 a.m.

Now, Bottoms Up Bagels is on to the new batch in their rented kitchen space in the United Church of Cohoes.

The Baltimore-based business decided to take their New Jersey-style bagels on the road.

"Well, yes, we boil them," said co-owner Michelle Bond. "That’s a question I think lots of folks want to know, who know what a ‘real bagel’ is, is do you boil it. Not only do we boil it, which gives it that crunchy chewiness, but we also do everything by hand. Very old school!"

Supporting this church by renting its kitchen is part of the company’s community development approach.

"We’ve built our following in Baltimore based out of farmers markets, and actually grown from doing this in our house, to a community center, then a church, and then eventually a commissary, and then eventually a shop, so it’s always been who we are to say how do we do this in a way that’s mutually beneficial," said Bond.

The temporary storefront is on Ontario Street, right next door to Substatoot, and a block from city hall.

They offer bagels, spreads, sandwiches, and some daily specials.

"For something like this that’s several days long, it allows us to add different things to the menu throughout the week or just going to play with stuff, depending on what people are interested in," said Bond.

This is their first pop-up since COVID. The owners say they chose Cohoes after seeing the growth in this city, especially during the pandemic.

"We just look at fit and also the reception of the business community," said Bond. "And the history."

People can be passionate about their bagels, debating where the best come from, and what makes a good one.

These are small-batch, and made-from-scratch, and here for four days.

Bottoms Up Bagels will be open every day through Sunday, 7 a.m. until 1:30 p.m., or whenever they run out.