After operating as a pop-up shop, Tilly Bagel Shop is preparing to open its first brick-and-mortar in South Loop, located at 34 East Balbo Dr.
The new bagel shop will feature handcrafted sourdough bagels and cream cheese. Before this expansion, co-owners Hannah Tillett and Mike Banaszak started the company during the pandemic, starting with a pop-up with Two Mile Coffee Bar in Beverly. A few years later and the duo are ready to open a brick-and-mortar a few blocks from Grant Park sometime in Summer 2023, according to the company’s social media. Considering the shop’s walls were added at the beginning of this month, it could be a few more months before opening.
When the storefront opens, customers can expect plenty of bagel options, as well as bagel sandwiches, coffee, and more. Some bagel creations sold at this brick-and-mortar include a pepperoni pizza bagel, a sun-dried tomato & roasted garlic bagel, a Cacio e Pepe bagel, and mini bagels. Tilly Bagel Shop also offers plenty of cream cheese options, from classic and unconventional, such as the ramp and bacon cream cheese.
“Our bagels are naturally leavened with our sourdough starter that contains whole wheat and rye flour,” according to a recent job posting. “The bagels are made in small batches and rise overnight in a cool temperature before being boiled, topped, and baked the next morning. Each bagel is hand-dipped all around in toppings and then baked at a very high temperature.”
