Bella's Bagels brings "Schmear of the year" nod back to the Springs

Gigi Sukin

Post by Governor Jared Polis praising Colorado bagels; shows a Bellas Bagels storefront with a beige border and the banner "CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2026 BAGELFEST WEST CHAMPIONS" above the shop. — Gov. Jared Polis congratulates Bella's Bagels on their "Schmear of the year" award. Screenshot: Twitter

Colorado Springs' own Bella's Bagels took home "Schmear of the year" at the 2026 BagelFest West in Los Angeles this week for its Pueblo green chile cream cheese.

Why it matters: The win puts a local favorite on a national stage — and highlights Colorado's growing food cred beyond Denver.

State of play: Bella's "Mom-Made" New Jersey-style bagels are no stranger to the awards game.

The shop previously won Best Bagel in Best of the Springs and landed on Yelp's 2025 list for the Top 20 Best Local Food Businesses in the country.

BagelFest, founded in 2019, has become the premier bagel industry showcase — drawing thousands of attendees and helping standout shops gain momentum.

What we're watching: "The demand for hand-rolled, kettle-boiled bagels has suddenly exploded," the New York Times recently reported.

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Bella's Bagels brings "Schmear of the year" nod back to the Springs

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