It’s kind of amazing when we stop to think about what a bagel, something that is so simple, has allowed us to do. In the last year, we have had the opportunity to vend at Eastern Market (Tuesdays are back), received incredibly gracious media coverage, met all sorts of inspiring people, and purchased a strategically located property. Then, over the past six months, we thoroughly examined how we can use this opportunity to improve place, connect communities, foster healthy competition, and most importantly in the short run, satiate Detroiters’ demand for great bagels.

While we won’t be able to get you great bagels for a few more months, we can whet your appetite with our ideas for improving place and connecting communities. Our location, 1236 Michigan Avenue, is the default gateway to Corktown. This is a responsibility we don’t take lightly. We have attempted to design a place that welcomes people traveling from Downtown into the neighborhood. Our design is intended to invite both customers arriving by way of auto and customers who will arrive by way of bus rapid transit. We also wish to use design to encourage customers to explore Detroit on foot. Pedestrians can either head west to Roosevelt Park or east to Campus Martius, both of which are less than 15 minute walks and probably only feel like 10 after carb-loading on some bagels! Below are some concepts for context. Click and then click again for large versions.