After a handful of delays and a change in proposed location, Bagelshop has finally started selling schmears in Donelson. Max and Kayla Palmer started their boiled bagel business in early 2020, first delivering bagels to your doorstep (I miss those days, not gonna lie) and selling at farmers markets. In 2021, the couple opened a bagel bakery inside the Fairlane Hotel. And now, with the opening of the Donelson cafe, Max says he has the location he has always wanted.
“This one was always my dream, to have a location where people find a way to be regulars,” Max says. The Palmers live a mile-and-a-half from the cafe, which is in Donelson Plaza and opened Dec. 4.
Fairlane valets allow folks to pull up and run in to pick up their bagels, so parking downtown isn’t the frustration it could be, but Max acknowledges that a lot of locals don’t want to go downtown to grab bagels. So that location primarily serves downtown workers and visitors to the city. “There is zero cross traffic between the two locations,” he says.
Donelson's Bagelshop was designed as a place for people to hang out, with electrical outlets built in to make for easy laptop access. And the Palmers want to see people sit and stay awhile. Lots of windows welcome the natural light. Adds Max: “My vision was to have a cafe that serves really good food and is a place to get work done.”
Like the Fairlane location, which is still open and baking, the Donelson cafe serves a selection of classic bagels, cream cheese schmears and creative combos of bagel sandwiches. There are some varieties not available downtown (like the Plaza, a veggie sandwich). The new space is also giving the Palmers room to experiment with new offerings and bring back old favorites. Kayla recently baked babka, and fans of the everything-bagel/chili-crisp-combo seasoning that the couple used to sell at farmers markets will be happy to see that back and for sale. The Donelson Bagelshop has room for that kind of retail, so in addition to the seasonings, the shelves are lined with olive oils, tinned fish and sea salt. Chrome Yellow Coffee, out of Atlanta, is for sale as well.
Bagelshop is open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., but Max says those hours could expand, particularly on the weekends. It is located at 2708 Old Lebanon Road.
