How Two Jersey Girls Turned a Disaster Breakfast into a Booming Business

Joan Kanner and Michelle Bond are are the Co-Founders of Bottoms Up Bagels. ‌Bottoms Up Bagels® is a small batch bagel shop, preparing handmade, authentic NJ style bagels, house cured lox and specialty cream cheeses. Inspired by the traditions of bagel-making dating back to the 1940s, these Jersey girls founded BUB in 2015. Bottoms Up Bagels brings classic flavors to long-time residents and transplants alike. BUB began as a pop-up based business in Baltimore City and grew from there thanks to their team members and devoted customers, collaborators and champions (aka “BUBalas”). In 2019 they launched the BUB Roadshow, testing their concept in areas off-the-beaten-path. In 2023 they were named Grand Prize Winner in the Lenovo Evolve Small Mentorship Contest, receiving mentorship from Queen Latifah. ‌Joan and Michelle believe in community and that the exchange of a lovingly prepared meal and passionate service are the most valuable of gifts. They serve food the way they like to eat it and the way they would prepare it for you in our home. ‌Hear more about Michelle and Joan, and the business of BUB on their podcast: Proofing Stage. What you will learn Discover how a terrible corporate breakfast sparked the birth of a bagel business Hear about the BUB Roadshow: A daring venture taking bagels across the US Discover the behind-the-scenes efforts in sourcing ingredients and adapting recipes to local tastes Gain insights into the critical role of community and peer support in navigating the complexities of the food industry Explore the strategy for scaling a bagel business amidst the challenges of labor costs Find out how BUB maintained their brand identity and quality through partnerships