BCB Cafe was founded by lifelong friends, Kristee Gilbert and Jennifer Reynolds, who started their first location in Hillcrest in 1994. The café has grown steadily over the years, with its menu evolving to include not only bagels but also crepes, sandwiches, smoothies, and an espresso bar. They also operate several coffee carts at San Diego State University and a kiosk at the San Diego Airport Rental Car Center, further cementing their presence in the local community.
In addition to their Hillcrest and SDSU locations, BCB also operates a wholesale business, supplying local colleges, coffee shops, and hotels with freshly made bagels and other baked goods. The café uses premium ingredients, such as Boar’s Head meats for their sandwiches and Café Moto coffee, a local favorite.
In addition to their Hillcrest and SDSU locations, BCB also operates a wholesale business, supplying local colleges, coffee shops, and hotels with freshly made bagels and other baked goods. The café uses premium ingredients, such as Boar’s Head meats for their sandwiches and Café Moto coffee, a local favorite.
Solomon Bagels & Donuts, the previous tenant of the North Park location, had earned a loyal following for its traditional East Coast-style bagels and house-made pastries. Founded by Jeffrey Wang, a Taiwanese immigrant who honed his craft in New York, Solomon Bagels opened during the early months of the pandemic in April 2020. The eatery quickly became popular for its boiled-then-baked bagels, sandwiches, and coffee offerings. However, Wang’s health issues are believed to have led to the shop's recent closure this past July.
BCB Cafe's expansion into North Park comes at a time when the neighborhood is seeing continued growth in its culinary scene. The café will aim to fill the gap left by Solomon Bagels, offering a similar focus on high-quality, handcrafted bagels while bringing its own unique menu items to the table.
Big City Bagels is expected to open in early 2025 at 4152 30th Street in San Diego's North Park. For more information, visit bcbcafesd.com.
Originally published on October 18, 2024.
BCB Cafe's expansion into North Park comes at a time when the neighborhood is seeing continued growth in its culinary scene. The café will aim to fill the gap left by Solomon Bagels, offering a similar focus on high-quality, handcrafted bagels while bringing its own unique menu items to the table.
Big City Bagels is expected to open in early 2025 at 4152 30th Street in San Diego's North Park. For more information, visit bcbcafesd.com.
Originally published on October 18, 2024.