A spread of home - Bloomin Bagels

The Front of Bloomin Bagels

Walking into Bloomin Bagels you feel right at home like a hometown spot. The comforting hum of conversation coming from the customers of all different lives. Some are older like a kind gentleman sporting a black polo and khaki pants placing an order for some delicious raisin bagels, or another picking up an order to go in a blue t-shirt and khaki shorts.

 The atmosphere feels casual and yet there’s a hint of old school class to the establishment. Whether it’s the classic black tables or simply how a local bagel shop inspires people to dress, it is endearing. As you enter, the delicious smell of freshly cooked eggs and ham sizzling on the grill hits you.

The windows allow the beautiful morning sunshine to cast its rays inside illuminating the whole building. Beyond the smells the café feels like a local spot from its very openly displayed drink stores and boxes tucked away in higher places, making it feel as though you are in a family kitchen where there isn’t an exact place for every item but rather it is up to the employees to decide. The employees are dressed in a wide variety of simple one-color shirts, however the uniform sports a white apron folded over with a pair of shorts underneath to help them beat the heat.

While the air feels cool and crisp in the morning, the afternoon is a whole different story with the heat from the crowd of people certainly warming the store as well as the sun working its magic, as the beautiful rays that illuminate every inch of the restaurant also heat it. Turning the atmosphere from comfortable to feeling like the hustle and bustle of an immensely popular local establishment. The morning rush around 7-10 everyday happens to be a big part of this bustling environment.

As you reach the counter you encounter the most modern feeling technology in the whole store, a pair of twin iPads ready to take your order lightning fast. The employee’s hands fly across the screen as a pianist’s fly across the keys, matching the pace of whatever customer happens to be ordering. They do all of this with a friendly smile and an air of professionalism and efficiency.

Kylee, a new cashier to Bloomin Bagels dressed in the classic apron and brown t-shirt, happily explains “Bloomin Bagels is a great place to work, the people are so kind and work very hard. Even though I just started I feel right at home.” She goes on to elaborate on her duties as an employee “I mostly work cash register right now which means that I like, take people’s orders and tell the cooks about special requests. I also sometimes work the bagel line though! That means you’re in charge of the spreads on the bagels and assembling everything” After which she was called away to help a customer.

While two people assemble the bagels during rush hours, two more employees operate the grill. One in charge of grilling the bacon, eggs, and sausage to crispy perfection, and the other hustling around ensuring that everything is well stocked and ready should anyone need it. Finally, you have the cashiers who can frequently be found chatting with regulars when not attentively taking a customer’s order always with a smile on their face.

Drink shelves and tables inside Bloomin Bagels

The satisfying crackle of bacon with its smell wafting over ensnaring the senses and at the same time inspiring a comforting feeling that all the food is fresh and healthy. The employees fly through their jobs like second nature assembling sandwiches on all types of bagels from plain to everything to even blueberry. They call out names left and right like an auction with bagels being slid across the counter to guests eagerly awaiting their morning bite. As you sit down to enjoy a delicious sandwich and maybe even a coffee you are greeted with the aroma of fresh food wafting from all around.

Bloomin Bagels is special, not just because of their delicious food or excellent customer service, but because of how they make you feel. When a bagel is ordered they always double check with the customer that they spread a satisfactory amount of spread on every bagel. They also suggest excellent combinations that only come with many years of experience learning what their local customers love.

 However, it wouldn’t be a full experience without the loud conversations all around about things like the weather, the adventures of that little dog, and the inexplicably humorous details of the shenanigans little kids get up to. A man sitting nearby in khaki shorts and a sporting maroon polo quips “The weather is so nice today I almost want to do yard work” followed by a hearty chuckle.

Looking out the window at the beautiful view of the street gives an appreciation of how peaceful Bloomin Bagels is. Cars of all sorts of colors and varieties, speed on by off to who knows where. You’re left feeling at the center of it all, sitting and watching life happen to so many different people at the same time. Standing up to leave and pushing in the simple black chair, featuring a mild cushion, and throw out your brown paper bag. One last whiff of delicious breakfast food hits your nose as a reminder of the delicious meal. As you leave the employees wish you a good day and thank you for coming in, in one last endearing remark.