What started as a backyard pandemic side hustle is now turning into one of the fastest-growing bagel brands in the country, with its first DMV location opening this week and Montgomery County not far behind.
Viral bagel concept PopUp Bagels will open on Friday, April 10 at 1078 Wisconsin Ave. NW in Georgetown. The shop marks the brand’s debut in the DMV and will be its first location to feature a second floor with indoor seating for customers.
Montgomery County won’t have to wait long to join the trend. Signage for PopUp Bagels went up in late 2025 at 7607 Old Georgetown Road in Bethesda, where the shop will occupy the ground floor of the Solaire apartment building. An exact opening date has not yet been announced, but it is expected later this year.
PopUp Bagels has built a massive following thanks to its small-batch approach and viral presence on social media, earning millions of likes on TikTok. The brand has also received national recognition, including being named one of the “16 Best Bagels in New York City” by The New York Times and winning Brooklyn Bagelfest’s “Best Bagel” award two years in a row.
The company, which now operates in multiple states including New York, Connecticut, Florida, and California, describes its bagels as having a crispy crust with a soft interior, made in small batches to ensure freshness.
Founder Adam Goldberg said the concept began simply as a way to share a homemade bagel recipe with friends. “When we started baking bagels in my backyard, I never imagined we’d turn it into a national brand,” Goldberg said. “We weren’t trying to start a business – we just wanted to make something great and share it with friends.”
