Anything Bagel keeps the classic Block's recipes alive
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Anything Bagel is taking its shot at reviving the Block's Bagels recipes. Photos: Andrew King/Axios
Eighteen months after the beloved Block's Bagels closed its doors, a second brand is taking its shot at reviving the Columbus shop's recipes.
Catch up quick: Block's, which launched in 1967, closed in March 2025 after the death of founder Harold "Hal" Block.
- Cincinnati-based Marx Bagels, also owned by Block, took over the shop after a month, but closed in June.
Driving the news: Friday marked the launch of Anything Bagel, a refreshed breakfast and lunch concept with an expanded menu that, of course, still features the classics.
- Columbus entrepreneur TJ Burkheart bought the rights from Marx.
- "I didn't want to see the classic old recipes die," he tells Axios.
The vibe: Block's regulars will recognize the space and its large menu board and display case — it feels like a bagel shop.
What I tried: At a tasting event, I sampled a wide variety of bagels and schmears.
- I ate bagels until I was stuffed. Y'know — for journalism.
Best bites: The two best combinations were a black Russian bagel (made of dense pumpernickel) with chive cream cheese and a blueberry bagel with blueberry spread that surprised me.
- The everything bagel and strawberry cream cheese get an honorable mention.
The bottom line: If you, like me, eat grocery store bagels all the time out of convenience, it's easy to forget how different a good bagel can be.
- These are the real deal.
📍 Stop by: 6am-5pm daily, 6115 McNaughten Center. Menu.
- Standard bagels are $1.50 and specialties are $2.75 — add a regular or flavored cream cheese for $4 or $4.50.
- A half dozen ($8) or baker's dozen ($14.50) are good value.