Bring Phat Bagel to Life: Support Dexter's Vision

Hi, my name is Dexter Edwards, and I’m the proud founder of Phat Bagel— a fresh, hand-rolled bagel shop opening soon in the heart of Bloomfield, Pittsburgh’s historic Little Italy neighborhood.

Phat Bagel was born from a long-standing dream that dates back nearly two decades. After overcoming significant personal challenges and rebuilding my life, I decided in December 2023 to finally pursue my vision. I immersed myself in the craft of traditional bagel-making, partnering with a mentor from New York to hone my skills.

Since then, Phat Bagel has taken incredible first steps. We’ve partnered with amazing local businesses like Trace Brewing and Baby Loves Tacos to host pop-ups, where we’ve consistently sold out and built a loyal base of repeat customers. Our concept is simple but special: fresh, hand-rolled bagels paired with house-made whipped spreads— from creative cream cheeses to flavorful goat cheese and tofu options — and hearty breakfast sandwiches. We're blending quality, creativity, and a strong sense of community into everything we do.

To further grow, I partnered with the University of Pittsburgh’s Small Business Development Center for support and guidance. I also secured a commissary kitchen and all necessary permits after working closely with the health department to meet local regulations.

However, we recently faced a new challenge. The health department has informed us that current regulations do not allow small food producers to sell directly out of other businesses' brick-and-mortar spaces — the model that had been the foundation of our success so far. While we're actively working to pivot by joining farmers markets like the Bloomfield Farmers Market, this unexpected hurdle has temporarily slowed our momentum.

We officially signed a lease for our very own location in Bloomfield on June 1st, with plans to open later this summer. Our goal is to create an inclusive, vibrant, and welcoming bagel shop for everyone in the community — but to make this dream a reality, we’re seeking help to cover critical startup expenses, including equipment purchases and necessary renovations to our new space.

We’re still pushing forward, selling whenever possible and staying connected with our growing Phat Bagel community. Any contribution you can make will go directly toward opening our doors and continuing to build something truly special in Bloomfield.

Thank you so much for your support, encouragement, and belief in the vision of Phat Bagel. I can’t wait to welcome you in and share the journey with you.