Delivery-only bagel shop is coming to a Charlotte neighborhood near you

The dad and recent Charlotte area transplant lost his job at the start of the pandemic and needed a new gig ASAP, so he launched a delivery-only bagelery out of a ghost kitchen in Matthews.

The big picture: Charlotteans are hungry for a good bagel, and Priest has one — if you manage to find it.

[Related Axios guide: 8 must-try bagel spots in Charlotte]

How it works: Priest’s primary delivery area surrounds Stallings, Matthews, Mint Hill and Weddington, but he ventures out to Charlotte at least once a week.

• Last week, he was in Plaza Midwood, which is when I finally got the chance to try his pillowy-on-the-inside, crispy-on-the-outside bagels.
• The main delivery area can get bagels on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8-11am.

The bagels: Priest makes a variety of flavors from the classic plain and everything bagels to more creative flavors like s’mores and sun-dried tomato.

• Pre-order at least 8 bagels at a time via his website. (Cost is $1.50-$2.25 per bagel.)

Good news: If you’re not in any of the delivery zones, don’t fret. “I’m a sucker,” Priest says. “If someone really wants bagels, just ask.”

• He’s always looking to expand to more neighborhoods around Charlotte, so if you suggest a new area, chances are, he’ll add it to the list.
• Priest has even sent morning bagels to folks via Uber if it’s outside his delivery radius. (The dedication!)

Background: Priest, 41, grew up in Florida watching and learning the bagel process out of his childhood best friend’s shop. Then he married a woman from New Jersey and honed his craft even more.

What’s next: BagelGram’s deliveries are just the beginning of Priest’s local bagel business. He hopes to secure a brick-and-mortar location within the next year and model the customer experience off of Wawa with contactless ordering and grab-and-go options. “There’s nothing like it [here],” he says.

• Plus: He plans to purchase a bagel rolling machine and other equipment so he can bake more than the 200-300 bagels per day he’s currently churning out.

“We’re thankful that people enjoy our bagels,” he tells me. “That’s what keeps me going.”

Order a BagelGram here.