Bagel chain makes Florida debut in Tampa

PopUp Bagels, a northeastern bagel chain, is opening a Tampa location — its first in Florida — in a space occupied by a dry cleaner for about 20 years. 

The new shop is scheduled to open Friday — Sep. 5 — at Kennedy Plaza on 4528 W. Kennedy Blvd. 

Jeff Dervech, president of Tampa-based Dervech Real Estate, says the company leased about 1,900 square feet in the center and the franchise owner has been updating the space for several months. 

Dervech represented the landlord and did not disclose the least terms. 

PopUp says on its website that its bagels are no frills with a “crispy crust and soft crumb center, just the right size and with a perfect proportion of seeds.” 

The Tampa shop will be PopUp Bagel’s 15th location. It has seven in New York, four in Connecticut and three in Massachusetts. 

The space was previously leased by McNatt’s Cleaners. The chain closed about a year ago.