---
title: "Ugly Bagel Opens in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/cc0b3a1e-6215-4cf3-a7c3-f3940dff6e17
source: "QSR Magazine"
original_url: https://www.qsrmagazine.com/news/ugly-bagel-opens-in-mt-juliet-tennessee/
author: "Ben Coley"
category: "Bakery & breakfast"
industry: "Restaurants"
segment: "Bakery & breakfast"
topics: ["Emerging brands","Development & multi-unit"]
published: 2026-07-01T15:11:51.000Z
modified: 2026-10-31T13:18:35.062Z
image: https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1556761175-b413da4baf72?w=1600&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop
---

# Ugly Bagel Opens in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee

**TL;DR:** Ugly Bagel has opened its third location in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, as part of its expansion strategy driven by community demand. The Nashville-based bagel concept was founded by hospitality veterans Jeff Crabiel and Jake Strang, who are building the brand in their hometown communities.

*By Ben Coley, originally published in QSR Magazine on 2026-07-01. [Read the original](https://www.qsrmagazine.com/news/ugly-bagel-opens-in-mt-juliet-tennessee/).*

## Story

Today, Ugly Bagel brings its hand-rolled bagels and small-batch spreads to Mt. Juliet with the opening of its third location at Everette Downs. The opening marks the Nashville-born brand’s third store in 18 months, as hospitality veterans and co-founders Jeff Crabiel and Jake Strang continue to build in the Middle Tennessee communities they call home.

“I keep going back to our opening week in The Arcade Nashville,” said Jeff Crabiel, co-founder of Ugly Bagel. “I was talking with guests when a gentleman stopped and said, ‘Please come to Mt. Juliet.’ At the time, we were just trying to make it through week one. Opening a third store felt a long way off. Today, it becomes a reality.”

The Mt. Juliet opening is the latest chapter in a growth story driven entirely by community demand. The flagship location at The Arcade Nashville established the brand’s identity and proved that imperfect, handcrafted bagels and the people behind them could hold their own in a crowded fast-casual landscape.

The second location in Cool Springs demonstrated the brand could travel beyond downtown and resonate with a broader Middle Tennessee audience. Mt. Juliet was the natural next step, a fast-growing community with a strong local identity that had already made its desire for Ugly Bagel clear.

Unlike outside operators moving into new markets, Crabiel and Strang are Middle Tennessee natives who have spent more than 20 years building careers in the region’s hospitality industry. Every location they open is an investment in their own backyard.

The pair’s hospitality background is woven into every visit, anchored by the Bagel Concierge, a dedicated team member who guides guests through a fully customizable kiosk ordering experience. Beyond the core menu of signature cream cheese spreads, butter combinations, sandwiches, coffee and monthly flavor drops, the opening also marks the first time Mt. Juliet guests can try Ugly Bagel Refreshers, two drinks that joined the menu just in time for summer:

- Pink Dragon Lemonade, a blend of lemonade, club soda and dragon fruit syrup.

- Brain Freeze, featuring Hawaiian Shaved Ice Alani, strawberry puree and vanilla cold foam.

“What we’ve built in a short time tells part of the story, but the part that matters most to us hasn’t changed since day one. We make food that isn’t perfect because it’s made by hand, we show up in communities we actually live in, and we try to leave every guest a little better than we found them. That’s the job. And if we keep doing it right, Middle Tennessee won’t be the only place that gets to experience it,” said Jeff Crabiel.

Ugly Bagel’s Mt. Juliet location at 1913 N. Mt. Juliet Road in the Everette Downs development is open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. Guests can order online at uglybagel.com, through in-store kiosks or via the Ugly Bagel app. Catering is also available for offices, events and special occasions, with all orders made fresh each morning and packaged to serve.

## Entities

- unit expansion (topic)
- QSR Magazine (publication)
- Ben Coley (person)
- Nashville (location)
- menu items (topic)
- Emerging (sector)
- Mt. Juliet (location)
- Ugly Bagel (company)
- Jeff Crabiel (person)
- Jake Strang (person)
- community demand (topic)
- local hospitality (topic)

---
Originally reported by Ben Coley, QSR Magazine (https://www.qsrmagazine.com/news/ugly-bagel-opens-in-mt-juliet-tennessee/). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/cc0b3a1e-6215-4cf3-a7c3-f3940dff6e17).