It was just a few short months ago that Morningside Bagels in Maumelle closed its doors indefinitely due to what the website boiled down to “personal reasons.” Now the beloved bagel bakery is poised to make a comeback as soon as late October and fans are chomping at the bit to get a taste.
Located at 10848 Maumelle Blvd., the bakery served up boiled bagels from scratch with fresh cream cheese schmears and Guillermo’s Coffee, the cult-status pastry becoming a regular in the rotation for many in the Little Rock metro.
Robyn Edwards is now taking the helm as Morningside’s new owner, tasked not only with making repairs and replacing machinery, but with learning how to make the signature New York-style bagels using the well-guarded recipes of former owner Roxane Tackett.
For Edwards, the decision to purchase Morningside came after reaching her 20th anniversary at a former job, spurning the need for a life change. When she saw the shop was for sale, she reached out to Tackett, Edwards’s former coworker before setting out in the bagel business.
“I had been looking off and on over the years for a small franchise or business to invest in, but nothing really felt right,” Edwards says. “When I broke the news at work, many of my coworkers offered their work expertise from social media to graphic arts, as well as plain ol’ elbow grease to help get Morningside back up and running … This time it felt right, like it was meant to be.”
Customers will be happy to hear the new Morningside will serve up the same bagels made from scratch each day and the same menu, including Guillermo’s coffees and a variety of stocked teas. Edwards is currently toying with the idea of bringing back soups and adding a new sandwich to help round out the menu, and is looking to dive into the world of lattes and cappuccinos.
Aesthetically, the shop will see a few interior updates and a new logo to mark the change in ownership, and even a few former employees returning to join the team at the front counter and drive-thru window.
“When I mentioned my interest in buying Morningside to friends, family and coworkers, it was apparent that this little bakery was more that just a place to get your daily quota of carbs,” Edwards says. “My father, who just recently passed away, would meet with his retired buddies almost daily at a local restaurant to have coffee, sometimes eat, but mostly to cut up and just hang out with each other.
“I hope Morningside Bagels will be that same homey hub for our customers — a place where they can relax and connect with family, neighbors, friends and coworkers face-to-face in a comfortable setting, all while eating a ton of happy carbs and gourmet drinks.”
Morningside will also boast new operating hours: 6 a.m. – 1 p.m. Monday-Friday and 7 a.m. – 1 p.m. Saturday. Hours may eventually change based on customers’ preferences, but the shop will be closed on Sundays.
Edwards hopes to reopen at the end of October, pending the arrival of new kitchen equipment.
Stay up-to-date on all Morningside Bagels developments by following the shop on Facebook.
