My mother may be happy to know that after Tuesday, she may not need to schlep bagels down from Chicago anymore.
That’s because Tuesday, June 29, is opening day for the much-anticipated Einstein Bros. Bagels in Urbana (at the southwest corner of Lincoln and University Avenues).
If you are one of the first 100 customers Tuesday, you will received a booklet of coupons for one free egg sandwich each week for the next 52 weeks. That’s a free sandwich a week for a year. Of course, that means you’ll probably have to be in line when they open at 5:30 a.m.
Einstein Bros. Bagels is a chain based in Colorado, with more than 300 stores across 28 states, its website says. But the owners of the Urbana store are franchisees who have moved here to operate the restaurant.
Although it isn’t visible from University, there is plenty of parking behind the building, and there will also be a bike rack as a convenience for bicyclists (although it may not be there yet).
Unfortunately, there wasn’t any food available for tasting on the day we visited the store. But we know that we won’t be able to stay away for long.
To start, Einstein Bros. Bagels will be open the following hours, according to owner Marc Bralts:
Weekdays: 5:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturdays: 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sundays: 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
As I said in my post Thursday, it has been way too long since we had a decent commercial bagel in these parts. Best of luck to Marc (a new dad himself) and Ryan.
