Montreal-Style Bagel Shop Spread Sets Up on South Street

Philly’s once-puny bagel scene continues to expand, this time with a new location of Spread Bagelry. The local chain is setting up shop at Fifth and South streets, in what was for many years Johnny Rockets. It starts slicing bagels and spreading on schmear Thursday, March 5.

Spread sells hand-rolled, Montreal-style bagels, boiled in honey water and baked in wood-fired ovens. They’re more irregularly shaped and denser than New York bagels. Philly must be into them because this is already the fifth location of the expanding chain and there’s a sixth in the works.

The original is in Rittenhouse. A University City outpost came next, followed more recently by a Spread on Lancaster Avenue in Bryn Mawr and at 2401 Walnut — that one is a collaboration with Workhorse Brewing and has both the regular bagel shop menu and a taproom menu. Another Center City Spread, at 106 S. 16th Street in what was a Subway, is on the way.

As of March 5, the newest Spread (443 South Street) is open daily from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Spread [official photo]

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