Big Apple Bagels Celebrates Grand Re-Opening All Weekend Long

It may be called Big Apple Bagels, but franchise-owner Gina Hampton wants people to know there's much more than the New York staple at her store.

"It's fresh food," Hampton told Patch. "We make the bagels from scratch... everything is homemade. We do lasagna, meatloaf. We're bringing back the soups in a couple of weeks once it cools down."

The family-owned and -operated bagel store that sits at 1925 Main St. also boasts a plethora of baked goods, all made by Hampton in the kitchen. Have a craving for apple pie? It comes in muffin form! Can't get enough cheesecake? Hamptom makes chocolate cheesecake muffins and even New York-style pie.

"I sell them by the slice or whole," Hamptom said of her lucious New York-style treats. "I can make them to order, too."

Hampton also whips up cupcakes, both mini and regular-sized. She's got red velvet, chocolate chip, ones with Rolos on the inside.

"We can make whatever you want or whatever we can think up!" Hampton said.

Of course, Big Apple Bagels also carries made-fresh-daily bagels with innovative flavors like bacon cheddar and spinach. The local chain offers up about 31 different bagels each morning.

"People love the jalapeno cheddar," Hampton said of the most popular bagel flavor.

To go with your morning carb, Big Apple Bagels also offers up 10 different types of cream cheese, including, but not limited to, plain, veggie, chive, sundried tomato and honey cinnamon.

Is your mouth watering yet?

Hampton also said that any coffee they make at Starbucks can also be made at Big Apple Bagels. Aside from six various hot coffees they have set out, the store can make iced and blended drinks for the extra hot days in Ramona.

Hampton is holding a grand re-opening for her bagel store this weekend, Oct. 6-7, to showcase all the store's offerings as well as to invite people in to see the renovations that have transformed the bagel joint into more of a cafe-style eatery.

"We got a new case, new furniture, painted the walls, ripped out the dividing wall so you can see all the customers, added new carpet," Hampton said as she ticked off all the work they've done over the past coupe months. "We've got new booths and tall tables."

Big Apple Bagels new look will open up the restaurant and provide safety for Hampton and her family, who all work at the store. Their grand re-opening event will include plenty of tastings for Ramona residents with some fun dishes being served up.

"We're going to have a barbecue and be making bagel burgers!" Hampton said. "We'll be sampling our bagel chips, cream cheeses, mini cupcakes, muffins, bagel dogs."

Bagels, excluding "choice" flavors, will also be just 39 cents all weekend long to celebrate the new interior of the store.

"We have free wifi," Hampton said. "It's just a comfortable atmosphere."

Want to stop by and check out the bagel (and muffin, and cupcake, and cheesecake...) craze? Visit Big Apple Bagel on Oct. 6 from 6 a.m.-5 p.m. or Sunday from 7 a.m.-5 p.m. for their re-opening celebration and be sure to try out the Chuck's Alabama Special muffin.

"It's my grandma's recipe, named after my dad," Hampton said. "I have people come in just for that."