Bruegger’s Baked Fresh

Bruegger’s Bagels is a well-known fast-casual bakery-café chain that has been delighting customers with authentic New York-style bagels, breakfast sandwiches, and coffee since its founding in 1983. The company was established by Nordahl Brue and Mike Dressell in Troy, New York, and quickly gained a reputation for its traditional baking methods and high-quality ingredients. By the early 2000s, Bruegger’s had grown to over 300 locations, becoming a staple in the bagel café segment with its fresh-baked offerings and welcoming neighborhood atmosphere.

As of November 2025, Bruegger’s operates around 190 locations across 16 states, focusing its presence in the Northeast, Midwest, and select Sunbelt regions. The chain’s growth strategy includes both company-owned and franchised units, targeting urban and suburban areas that benefit from steady morning and lunchtime traffic. The acquisition by Groupe Le Duff in 2011, a global bakery-café operator, brought additional resources and expertise, allowing Bruegger’s to innovate and adapt to market changes effectively.

Headquartered in Burlington, Vermont, Bruegger’s continues to evolve its menu and store formats to align with changing consumer preferences. The core concept remains a bakery-café offering a wide array of bagels, sandwiches, salads, soups, and specialty coffee drinks. In recent years, the brand has introduced smaller-format stores and co-branded locations, as well as embraced digital ordering and delivery partnerships to boost convenience.

Bruegger’s approach to expansion is deliberate, focusing on new developments in established and adjacent markets while optimizing the performance of existing stores. The brand is known for its quality, consistency, and community involvement, making it an appealing tenant for retail landlords and shopping center owners looking for reliable foodservice anchors.

For commercial real estate professionals, Bruegger’s Bagels presents a proven business model, a recognizable brand, and adaptable store formats that fit various retail settings. Supported by its parent company and responsive to consumer trends, Bruegger’s is a stable and attractive option in competitive trade areas.