The Church Street Marketplace in Burlington, Vermont, has said goodbye to a long-standing fixture. Bruegger’s Bagels, a bakery chain with deep roots in the Burlington area, has closed its doors at its 93 Church Street location. Signs announcing the closure appeared on the storefront on Sunday, marking the end of an era for bagel lovers in downtown Burlington.
The closure is part of a larger wave of shutdowns affecting Bruegger’s Bagels locations, with approximately 30 stores across Eastern markets, including Washington D.C., Pennsylvania, and Ohio, ceasing operations. According to the Einstein Noah Restaurant Group, the parent company of Bruegger’s, these closures are attributed to “financial performance and improved positioning for future growth.” Despite these closures, Bruegger’s Bagels will continue to operate over 240 locations nationwide.
The Burlington closure is particularly poignant given the brand’s local origins. Bruegger’s Bagels was founded in 1983 by Nordahl Brue, a Burlington lawyer, and Michael Dressell, a builder from Shelburne. While their first store opened in Troy, New York, the company’s Vermont connection remained strong. Bruegger’s eventually expanded to Vermont, opening its first Green Mountain State location in Brattleboro in 1990, quickly followed by a store in Burlington. The Church Street location became a prominent spot, housed in the renovated Howard Opera House, and even served as the company’s administrative headquarters for a time.
For Church Street Marketplace regulars seeking their Bruegger’s Bagels fix, a sign on the now-closed storefront directs customers to the next nearest location on Shelburne Road in Shelburne. Becky Cassidy, marketing consultant for the Church Street Marketplace, confirmed that her office had received numerous inquiries about the closure. While expressing sadness at the departure of Bruegger’s, Cassidy highlighted the enduring appeal of Church Street for businesses. “We’re always sad to see a store close on the Marketplace, but we are blessed with the fact that this is a popular place for retail and restaurants to be,” she stated, noting strong interest from potential tenants when spaces become available.
Cassidy also offered a glimpse into the evolving retail landscape of Church Street. She mentioned that Fathead, known for its life-size sports and movie character decals, is anticipated to open soon in the former Spellbound clothing store location. Furthermore, the former North Face space is expected to be occupied by Free People, a women’s clothing chain, potentially as early as February. While the closure of Bruegger’s Bagels marks a change for Church Street, it also signals new opportunities and continued dynamism for this bustling Burlington marketplace.
