The Pearl Street store will be San Diego’s first for the franchise, which has garnered long lines for its no-sandwich take on fresh, hot bagels.
La Jolla bagel fans will have a dedicated gathering spot in PopUp Bagels, which will open in late 2025 at 637 Pearl St.
The site is currently undergoing construction to become the first San Diego location of the franchise, selected by franchisees Paul Goodman and Griffin Thall for its La Jolla address in their “backyard.”
PopUp Bagels, NY
PopUp Bagels is an East Coast bagel brand, founded by Adam Goldberg in Westport, Ct. The bagels are served fresh from the oven and meant to be eaten right from the bag.
The bagels aren’t cut in half; there are no sandwiches here, Thall said. “Grip, rip and dip: It’s not your traditional bagel.”
There will be flavors including everything, salt and sesame bagels, along with rotating “schmear” (cream cheese or butter) options, such as regular whipped, chocolate chip, scallion or pink peppercorn.
The average PopUp Bagels order is three bagels with a schmear, Thall said, though customers can choose to take three, six or a dozen bagels.
“We really pride ourselves on it being served hot and fresh and eaten pretty quickly so the experience can be 10 out of 10,” he said.
Goodman and Thall have committed to opening 10 PopUp Bagels in San Diego.
Griffin Thall (left) and Paul Goodman
This first one is in La Jolla because Goodman and Thall, who co-founded the La Jolla-based brand Pura Vida, have “been rooted in La Jolla,” Thall said, as they both also live in La Jolla or North Pacific Beach.
“It felt natural to put the first [bagel shop] in our backyard,” Thall said.
The other shops will open after the La Jolla location is up and running.
Thall is expecting big things from the stores, based on a trial run last month.
“We had a pop-up for PopUp” at the Hotel Del Coronado, he said, for which preorders sold out within five minutes of being posted.
About 300 people were lined up for the pop-up by 8 am, Thall added. “The demand was incredible. We were blown away.”
