Destiny is bringing a superior bagel shop to Penn Valley this fall. Kismet Bagels, the joint project of husband-and-wife team Alexandra and Jacob Cohen, is opening its first sit-down establishment in late October or early November of this year.
The new location will be serving the bagels customers already love, as well as an extended menu at 801 Montgomery Avenue. Co-owner Jacob Cohen spoke to What Now Philadelphia about the ways Kismet will change and stay the same in its new home, stating “Well first and foremost, it will still be a Kismet Bagels Shop at heart, but with lots of new fun offerings. We will have a full lunch program including sandwiches on other types of bread – definitely a Patty Melt, a Grilled Cheese, and some other fun meals. We also have some very exciting pastries that we intend to offer daily, but can’t quite share what those are yet. We also plan on having our own Soft Serve year round.”
Kismet is truly the watchword for the duo’s venture. Jacob explains that the pair hadn’t been actively seeking a new spot, however the circumstances surrounding the location were too ideal to pass up. The building held specific significance for the pair. Jacob explains “This spot holds meaning for us in multiple ways. First, it’s just a few minutes from where both Alexandra and myself grew up. Secondly, Alexandra actually used to go to the restaurant that was here (Gin-Za) almost weekly for many years with her Oma for lunch dates. When the location was presented to us, it truly just felt Kismet, like so many other steps in our journey.”
Jacob and Alexandra have enjoyed great success since opening the first Kismet Bagels in 2020. While the pair were not initially intending to open another location, destiny intervened. Jacob says “Truthfully, we weren’t planning on any further expansion at the moment when this opportunity presented itself, but we ourselves have moved back to the Main Line to raise our son, and when we saw the space in person, it just felt right. We feel like the neighborhood is begging for more options for both breakfast and lunch, as well as high quality sweets, and we can’t wait to bring it to them!”
Jacob and Alexandra are currently undergoing the permit process for the new location, which promises a warm and inviting atmosphere for guests hoping to enjoy a delicious meal or treat in a welcoming atmosphere.
The pair assures prospective customers they will enjoy a unique and homey experience, stating guests will find “a warm and cozy place for everyone to come and hang out – A pit stop on your early morning drive to work – A Meeting Place – A community. We want everyone to feel welcome.”
