Bears Bagels moves from Instagram orders and farmers-market sales to Hilliard storefront
Bears Bagels, popular at coffee shops and farmers markets since the fall of 2022, are starting to sell sandwiches, schmears and bagels by the bag today out of its own storefront in Hilliard.
It's another food-service silver lining from the pandemic. Charis Yost, like many stir-crazy Americans during the early 2020 lockdown, began baking bread. "I said, 'I'll give you a challenge: Make a good bagel," said his wife, Lo.
Her early verdict: "They were awful." But Charis took the bad review as another challenge.
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"I looked at him one day and said, 'You could legit sell these," Lo recalled. He began boiling and baking (because, as a sign in the store says, "Real Bagels Are Boiled") four dozen at a time for people who placed orders over Instagram and picked them up from the Yosts' porch.
The couple chose to open at 4142 Main St. in Hilliard because they live close by. The first Bears Bagels shop is to sell nine flavors: plain, everything, sesame, pumpernickel, honey oat, mixed berry, rosemary sea salt, a sesame-covered pumpernickel bagel called a "Black Russian" and a classic onion-topped bialy.
They're $2.25 each (bialys are $2,50), $13 for a half-dozen and $25 for a baker's dozen.
Schmear flavors are elevated a notch. The veggies in the veggie cream cheese are roasted, and the "Sassy Strawberry" is flavored with product from Columbus' Prospect Jam Co. New cream-cheese combos include chili crisp and "Spicy Toasty," flavored with jalapenos, Black Cap hot sauce and everything seasoning.
The shop is carryout-only, although there are a few chairs and barstools for waiting. There are nine options on a sandwich menu:
The Classic: an egg and cheese breakfast bagel with bacon, sausage or steak and onions
Goldie Lox: pastrami lox with a garlic and chive schmear, pickled red onion, tomato, cucumber, fresh dill and everything seasoning
Bears Best: a chili crisp schmear, hoisin slab bacon, folded egg, green onion and pickled radish and carrot
Por Que No El Puerco?: chorizo, folded egg, avocado smash, pickled red onion, honey chipotle mayo and cheddar
Cali Cuts: turkey, avocado smash, roasted veggie schmear, Swiss, spinach, roasted tomato and pickled red onion
Child's Garden: avocado smash or garlic and chive schmear, spinach, cucumber, pickled radish and carrot, and roasted tomato
Westwood Heat Wave: Black Cap hot sauce buffalo chicken, cheddar, runny ranch, spinach, red onion and tomato
Brunch It: "Sassy Strawberry" schmear, peanut-butter drizzle, honey, house-made granola, chopped strawberries
Grilled Threes: Duke's Mayo, white American cheese, cheddar and Swiss
Sandwiches are between $10 and $14. "Hours of carb consumption," as advertised on the front door, are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays.
Charis, a former general manager at 101 Beer Kitchen in Westerville, said he and his wife will wait to gauge the workload at their shop before deciding at what level to continue their wholesale business of distributing bagels to restaurants and shops.
He said Bears Bagels recently signed a deal with Cameron Mitchell Restaurants to supply bagels for brunch at Cap City Fine Diner.
Instagram: @dispatchdining
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Hilliard restaurants: Bears Bagels opens shop for sandwiches, schmears
