In addition to the new location, the company recently opened a production kitchen in Gulfport, giving it much more capacity for bagel production.<\/p>\n
It also allows Pete\u2019s to return to a more traditional bagel-making process, using bagel boards, which are essentially wooden planks wrapped in burlap and soaked in water. The bagels are placed upside down on the boards for part of the bake, helping create a crisp exterior and soft interior.<\/p>\n
\u201cOver the next week, we\u2019re going back to the really traditional way of making the bagels,\u201d Peterman said. \u201cWe had to change the process a while ago to keep up with demand, but we\u2019re going back to using bagel boards and the traditional revolving oven that we couldn\u2019t fit in our old space.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pete\u2019s Bagels first opened in St. Pete\u2019s Historic Uptown in 2019. The company now operates its Grand Central shop, a drive-thru location in south St. Pete<\/a>, a sister location in Ybor City, and a newer caf\u00e9 in Tarpon Springs. <\/p>\n Peterman also owns Seymour\u2019s<\/a>, a New York-style bagel shop in downtown St. Pete\u2019s Snell Arcade.<\/p>\n For now, the immediate focus is getting the new shop open, keeping the staff working, and giving Pete\u2019s customers a place that feels familiar while offering more room to stay awhile.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want this to be a community hangout,\u201d Peterman said. \u201cWe want you to come, work here, hang out, bring your family, bring your kids. Even if you\u2019re just buying a coffee and sitting there, we want to be that daytime place.\u201d<\/p>\n Be sure to follow Pete\u2019s Bagels on Instagram<\/a> and Facebook<\/a> to stay up to date.<\/p>\n