Popup Bagels sets July 24 opening date in Bethesda
Plus: Shah’s Halal Food debuts in downtown Silver Spring; Farmers market launches in Potomac
By
Elia GriffinJuly 10, 2026 5:00 p.m.
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Popup Bagels, a Connecticut-based bagel chain known for its whimsical cream cheese flavors and collaborations with other food brands, will open in downtown Bethesda on July 24, according to a press release from the eatery.
The shop at 7607 Old Georgetown Road is on the ground floor of the Solaire apartment complex and will be the bagel chain’s first in Maryland.
The eatery will celebrate with a grand opening event from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. on July 24, the release said. A limited Bethesda-exclusive cream cheese flavor–Chesapeake Spiced Schmear–will also be available.
Popup Bagels is known for reimagining the way bagels are traditionally eaten. The eatery encourages an alternative method of tearing a whole hot bagel into pieces and using the bites to scoop cream cheese or butter out of a tub.
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The bagel shop offers an assortment of classic bagels, including everything, plain, poppy, salt and sesame, along with traditional cream cheese and butter flavors sold by the tub. There also are “specialty schmears” that are available for purchase for a limited amount of time, including gingerbread cream cheese, cacio e pepe butter, Kraft Mac & Cream Cheese and maple cinnamon butter.
Popup Bagels will be the first of two bagel chains racing to open in downtown Bethesda this year. Call Your Mother, a shop known for its creative bagel sandwich combinations, is expected to open later this summer in the Woodmont Triangle neighborhood at 4838 St. Elmo Ave.
A Shake Shack is also expected to open soon at 7535 Old Georgetown Road, near the future Popup Bagel shop.
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New halal eatery opens in former Jerry’s Subs and Pizza shop in Silver Spring
Shah’s Halal Food, a fast-casual-style Middle Eastern eatery, opened Wednesday in downtown Silver Spring, according to information from the restaurant.
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The eatery is located in the former Jerry’s Subs and Pizza space at 8517 Colesville Road, across from the former Discovery Communications headquarters and near the Silver Spring transit center. The sub and pizza shop closed in January 2025.
The family-owned eatery was founded in 2005, beginning with a single food cart in Queens, New York. Now, Shah’s has grown to more than 150 locations worldwide and sells its signature white sauce wholesale.
All food served by the restaurant is 100% Halal certified, according to the restaurant. Menu options include a selection of platters, salads and gyros with such protein options as chicken, shawarma, beef, lamb, kofta, fish and falafel.
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In addition, the eatery offers burgers, party wings, loaded fries, chicken nuggets and sandwiches including a Philly cheesesteak and shawarma pita pocket. Recently, the brand collaborated with food influencer Ahmad Alzahabi (@thegoldenbalance) on a new sandwich called the Golden Shahwarma, a crispy grilled chicken shawarma sandwich with kosher dill pickles and garlic “toum” sauce.
Nadir Harooni, franchise owner of the Silver Spring eatery, said Friday in a statement emailed to Bethesda Today that he was “grateful” to be part of the Silver Spring community.
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“Our team is committed to providing a welcoming dining experience, quality ingredients, and excellent service every day,” Harooni said. “It’s an honor to serve our neighbors, and we look forward to continuing to meet their needs.”
New farmers market launches in Potomac this weekend
A new farmers market will open in Montgomery County this weekend in the Potomac Oak Shopping Center. The Stoney Glen Market will offer fresh produce, baked goods, coffee, local and artisan goods, according to a flyer from the market.
The open-air market at 12944 Travilah Road will run from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, rain or shine, according to the flyer. This weekend will be the market’s grand opening.
The Potomac Oak Shopping Center is home to Bai Kao Thai restaurant, Domino’s Pizza and the Potomac Oak Mart. The center is about one mile away from the Glenstone Museum.
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Originally published at Bethesdamagazine