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Eltana set to expand off Capitol Hill


2011.052, originally uploaded by Slightlynorth.

Someday, you will be able to say you lived near the first Eltana. CHS has learned that the popular Capitol Hill-born bagelry is ready for its first expansion. Founder Stephen Brown tells CHS that there are more Eltanas to come.

“Our plans will take us beyond Seattle,” Brown said earlier this week, a wood-fired sparkle in his eye.

But first, Eltana is set to conquer Wallingford — or, to be more precise, the confluence of N 40th and Stone Way N.


Brown tells CHS that the next Eltana is slated to be part of the Stoneway Village development, a mixed-use apartment complex filling in a notorious crater left behind by a demolished Safeway. Brown says he expects the new location to be open by late summer or early fall.

He also expects the new place to perform as well or better as his original on Capitol Hill where he estimated Eltana churned out 60,000 dozen bagels in its first year.

Prescott Wallingford is the new “brand” for the Stoneway Village development (Image: Baylis Architects)

 


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“A lot of our business is people stopping in for 5 minutes for bagels and spreads to go,” Brown said. What he has learned, then, on 12th Ave, is that positioning his cafes at “connection points” is a critical aspect of business success. He sees his new north of the canal location as exactly the type of nexus Eltana needs.

The rest of the recipe for success established when he first opened Eltana on Capitol Hill in December 2010 will mostly remain the same, Brown said. The retail spaces are of similar size and the new location will also have a wood-fired oven so bagels will be baked at both locations. Some operations will be streamlined, however, as Daniel Levin will move over to GM the Stoneway location and the creation of other items like the spreads and salads are centralized.

No big changes are planned for the 12th Ave location — though a new neighbor is about to move in.

A new location will also mean you’ll see a new Eltana truck beating a path between the Hill and Wallingford. That truck will also be used for deliveries around the city as Brown says the expansion also marks the start of Eltana’s wholesale efforts, a line of business the cafe hadn’t yet fired up.

After that, it will be time to let things bake for a bit. Brown says not to expect any additional Eltana cafes in the world through 2013. Probably.

“Our plans have always been to take a deliciously different bagel directly to consumers,” Brown said, speaking in bagel code. Translation: There are likely many more Eltanas to come.

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a neighbor up the street

Love the bagels and schmear but the coffee is really bad. We always go somewhere else. He needs to hire experienced baristas. Oh and lox would be nice.

schmear
12 years ago

I agree about the lox – bagel/cream cheese/lox is a classic for a good reason

I think they are trying to be authentic to Toronto bagels or whatever – but people expect lox – they are shooting themselves in the foot not offering it (plus it is a high dollar item on the menu)

I’d buy it…

The coffee… it’s OK… not great

Love the bagels

sheba
12 years ago

Love the place! I appreciate the vegetarian nature and healthful menu items and do not miss the lox! The smell of lox always(even when wrapped properly) always taints the cream cheese and butter in every bagel shop I’ve been to. Love the Latte’s!

oiseau
oiseau
12 years ago

Montreal.

Bigggggg difference. ;)

Noelle153
12 years ago

It took us several months to actually check this place out, I’ve never been a big bagel person. Now Eltana has become our standard for a quick weekend brunch – two bagels with spreads, tahini kale beet salad, warm coffee shared between two people is perfection. I think the only issue this place faces is expectations, if you go in not in love with a certain type of bagel in the first place you’re more likely to enjoy?

feelee
12 years ago

Lox would be great. Also wish they sold cream cheese to go. I miss Noahs egg/sausage bagels though have to say.

Eltana
12 years ago

You win. Lox spread and lox plate now available for purchase. No lie

sesameseed
12 years ago

Capitol Hill is a joke for parking. Even the lots are a challenge. Hope the new place (and any future places) have great parking. Bagels are not a major commitment like a full-on meal, so folks are less likely to fight to find a parking spot. They can move on and grab a quick bagel or muffin somewhere else. Eltana is a great place worth going to, but if they are able to make it where they are now, they will only flourish with more foot and zip in/zip out traffic. Perhaps they should consider a drive-through. But only if they commit to making the coffee with the same skill and attention that they bring to their bagels.

Ellyn Ostrow
11 years ago

Have you any idea when you’ll be opening in Wallingford. I need more bagels soon!!!!!