PopUp Bagels Appoints Mike Smith Chief Operating Officer

PopUp Bagels announced the appointment of Mike Smith as Chief Operating Officer, adding more than 20 years of restaurant leadership experience to the company’s executive team.

As PopUp Bagels enters its next phase, the company remains committed to the principles that built the brand: an exceptional product, an unforgettable guest experience, and a relentless focus on quality. Strengthening the leadership team is a natural extension of that commitment, ensuring the brand is guided by leaders who understand that every decision should protect the quality, authenticity, and care that have defined PopUp Bagels since day one.

As Chief Operating Officer, Smith will lead the teams responsible for executing and supporting the PopUp Bagels experience across the system, helping strengthen the people, processes, and foundation that enable the brand to consistently deliver the exceptional guest experience customers have come to expect.

Prior to joining PopUp Bagels, Smith served as Chief Brand Officer at Moe’s Southwest Grill after previously serving as Vice President of Operations. Before that, he was Chief Operating Officer at Taziki’s Mediterranean Café and spent more than a decade in restaurant operations leadership at Hooters.

“Our goal has never been to simply grow the number of shops we operate – it’s to build a company that never loses sight of what made people fall in love with PopUp Bagels in the first place,” said Tory Bartlett, Chief Executive Officer of PopUp Bagels. “That starts by bringing in leaders who share our values and understand that protecting the quality of our product and the experience behind it is just as important as building for the future. Mike’s experience and leadership make him an incredible addition to our team.”

Smith’s appointment follows the recent addition of Tom Smith as Vice President of Culinary Research & Development, reinforcing PopUp Bagels’ continued investment in the people, expertise, and leadership that support the brand’s long-term vision.

“What impressed me most about PopUp Bagels was the clarity of its mission and the passion behind the brand,” said Mike Smith. “I’m excited to work alongside our shop owners and the incredible team across the company to continue strengthening the operational foundation that will support PopUp for years to come while staying true to what makes it special.”