Food & Drink

An iconic NY bagel brand picks Chapel Hill for its first NC location

The legendary New York bagel shop H&H Bagels plans to open five locations in the Triangle. The first will be in Chapel HIl
The legendary New York bagel shop H&H Bagels plans to open five locations in the Triangle. The first will be in Chapel HIl H&H Bagels

One of the biggest names in bagels will land in Chapel Hill by the end of 2025.

Earlier this year we learned that famed New York City brand H&H Bagels would expand into the Triangle with its first North Carolina locations.

The first H&H shop will be in Chapel Hill’s University Place shopping center, at 239 S. Estes Drive.

Axios Raleigh was the first to report H&H’s plans for Chapel Hill.

H&H bagels in NC

There will be five Triangle H&H locations in total, spread out in Chapel Hill, Raleigh and Durham.

The Chapel Hill location will be around 2,300 square feet and open from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., according to town building permits. The bagel shop will have seating for around 30 people, including an outdoor patio.

H&H is not among the oldest major New York bagel brands, but it’s one of the best known, riding a pop culture wave that includes appearances in “Sex & The City,” “Seinfeld,” and “The Office.”

Now H&H is in the midst of a nationwide expansion that stretches from Santa Monica, Ca. to Jacksonville, Fl.

Triangle bagel shops

H&H joins a thriving bagel scene in the Triangle, led by homegrown favorites like Benchwarmers in Raleigh, Big Dom’s in Cary and Isaac’s in Durham.

The Triangle H&H franchise is owned by Durham couple Michael and Amanda Klein, according to Chapel Hill permits and state corporation filings. Reached by text, Michael Klein referred questions to H&H public relations.

When will H&H open in Chapel Hill?

In an email, an H&H spokesperson said Chapel Hill bagel fans can expect the new shop to open by the end of 2025.

Construction has been in the works for several weeks now. The building permit was first applied for in June and issued in July.

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Drew Jackson
The News & Observer
Drew Jackson writes about restaurants and dining for The News & Observer and The Herald-Sun, covering the food scene in the Triangle and North Carolina.
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