Today we’d like to introduce you to Manju Babu and Mohammad Dadara
Hi Manju and Mohammad, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
We are a husband and wife team who met in NYC. We come from different backgrounds, but used to live in New York City and Brooklyn, where great bagel places were everywhere. After a stint in NYC, we often found ourselves missing the classic New York bagel experience. We’ve been living in Austin since 2011, and having spent many years working in the tech space, we talked about how Austin’s bagel market had room for something special. We dreamed of creating a business that wasn’t just about food but also a cool cafe concept that offered great coffee and bagels. We’ve spent the last year and a half working on our craft, our vision, and finding a space. Our mission is to bring artisanal bagels and quality ingredients to Austin while creating an inclusive and welcoming space that reflects the diversity of the community.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The biggest roadblock has been finding the right space for Bagel Bear and designing it to align with our vision. Many landlords prefer established chains or franchises as tenants, which made securing a location more challenging. Beyond that, there are countless moving parts to bring this dream to life—designing the space, obtaining the necessary building certifications, navigating permits, coordinating contracts with vendors for supplies, arranging signage, and, of course, finding quality team members to join us on this journey.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Bagel Bear is all about bringing a taste of New York to Austin with artisanal bagels crafted from quality ingredients and paired with exceptional coffee. We specialize in a variety of unique flavors and offerings, blending traditional bagel classics with creative, globally inspired options like za’atar bagels, curry bagels or spreads, and honey-date spreads. What sets us apart is our focus on creating a welcoming, inclusive space that celebrates the diversity of our community – also organic sourdough bagels and organic coffee. Our bear-themed branding adds a fun and approachable twist that resonates with people of all ages. We’re proud of how our brand reflects a balance between tradition and creativity, offering a unique bagel experience that Austin hasn’t seen before. We want readers to know that Bagel Bear isn’t just a bagel shop—it’s a place to gather, connect, and enjoy something truly special.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Finding a mentor is about surrounding yourself with people who are going to uplift you and who you can learn to level up from. Having people who are doing the thing you want to learn from, contacting them, making it your mission to really learn everything that they are doing to get you to their level and beyond is critical.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bagel-bear.com
- Instagram: @bagelbearaustin
- Facebook: Bagel Bear
Image Credits
Manju Babu
