PopUp Bagels coming to Carrollwood

Connecticut-based bagel chain PopUp Bagels will open its second Tampa-area location this week, the company announced Wednesday. 

The “Not Famous, But Known” will host a grand opening for its new, 1,600-square-foot Carrollwood location, at 12817 N. Dale Mabry Highway, at 8 a.m. on Nov. 14, according to a release. That location was previously the Great Greek Mediterranean Grill. 

"We're excited to continue to expand and grow with the Tampa community," PopUp Bagels CEO Tory Bartlett says in the release. "Our Carrollwood opening is a measure of the love and support the people of Tampa have for fresh, hot bagels.”

The grand opening comes just months after PopUp Bagels opened its Westshore location, located at 4528 W. Kennedy Blvd. That store, opened in September, was the chain’s first Florida restaurant.

Known for its crispy crusts and soft crumb centers, PopUp Bagels has become a cult favorite since its launch in 2021, racking up numerous awards for its unique business model. The store sells hot, whole bagels and offers a weekly rotation of cream cheese, or “schmear,” flavors and exclusive brand collaborations. 

There’s “no slicing, no sandwiches,” the release says, just bagels designed for customers to “grip, rip and dip” into cups of its custom cream cheese creations. 

To celebrate the launch of its Carrollwood store, PopUp Bagels will offer a limited edition schmear exclusive to its newest restaurant: Smash Raspberry Habanero cream cheese. The new flavor was created in partnership with Kickstand Cocktails, the release says, a canned craft vodka soda brand “with a touch of heat.”

According to the release, the new Carrollwood location is one of 30 restaurants planned to open across Florida in locations including Delray Beach, Miami and West Palm Beach. PopUp Bagels finalized plans over the summer to add 300 franchise locations across 10 states, with a goal of reaching 100 operating restaurants by the end of 2027. 

“We’re incredibly pleased to announce our second location in Tampa,” Kal Gullapalli, PopUp Bagels Tampa partner, says in the release. “The excitement about PopUp Bagels in Florida is only growing, and we’re thrilled to be a part of bringing fresh bagels across the state.”

Gullapalli owns and operates more than 100 franchise locations across multiple states, with brands including Dave’s Hot Chicken, Marco's Pizza, VIO Medspa, Restore Hyper Wellness and European Wax Center, the release states. He lives in Lutz.