Manhattan Bagel announced the signing of a franchise agreement with Alex Patel to open a Manhattan Bagel restaurant in Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania.

“Fairless Hills is the perfect location for Manhattan Bagel,” Patel says. “The crave-able food and comfortable atmosphere of the popular Manhattan Bagel brand fit in well with the area. I am pleased to bring its neighborhood-friendly atmosphere and variety of great-tasting menu items with high-quality ingredients and quick-casual service to Fairless Hills.”

Patel has been a franchisee for nearly a year now and operates one other Manhattan Bagel Restaurant in Hatboro, Pennsylvania.

“Alex is an outstanding franchisee, and we have the utmost confidence that he will continue to represent everything the brand stands for,” says Kevin Kruse, vice president of franchise development with Manhattan Bagel. “Residents of Fairless Hills can expect to enjoy the same great food and service he provides customers at his other restaurants. We are committed to supporting Alex and all of our franchisees, present and future, as the system continues to grow.”

Manhattan Bagel’s menu items include 15 flavors of bagels and a wide variety of cream cheeses, made-to-order breakfast and lunch sandwiches, fresh salads, hearty soups, baked goods for breakfast, and afternoon snacks, along with premium coffees. The chain’s hot breakfast and lunch sandwiches are grilled, a distinguishing characteristic in the quick-casual bakery segment that provides Manhattan Bagel with a competitive edge. Most chains use microwaves to heat their sandwiches.

“We are very excited about the strong interest being shown in the Manhattan Bagel brand from experienced restaurant operators,” says Paul Carolan, senior vice president of franchising and licensing for Einstein Noah Restaurant Group, franchisor of the Manhattan Bagel brand. “Manhattan Bagel has been a solid performer over the last two decades, and we see a bright future ahead of us with solid franchise partners on board.”