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Einstein Bros Bagels plans to locate in region

BY JOHN D. HOMAN, The Southern

Saturday, August 30, 2008 11:27 PM CDT

CARBONDALE - The owners and consultants for a nationally renowned restaurant chain that specializes in the sale of bagels are targeting Southern Illinois as one of their new destination spots.

Paul Carolan, senior vice president of franchising and licensing for the Einstein Noah Restaurant Group, said he is looking for multiple franchise owners to run at least one new restaurant in Carbondale and added that there may be as many as four to five stores opened in the region within the next couple of years.

"The Southern Illinois area matches us well," Carolan said. "College campuses are especially good locations for our product as are airports."

Carolan said Einstein Bros is "much more than a bagel stand." He said it's a sit-down restaurant that will feature both a breakfast and lunch menu. Besides a wide array of bagels, egg sandwiches, paninis and wraps are sold along with yogurt, coffees and juices.

Lunches include deli sandwiches and wraps with ham, turkey, pastrami and cheeses; salads and soups; tuna salad; pizza bagel meals; fat-free frozen drinks and a variety of sweets such as cookies, cakes, strudel and cinnamon twists.

"We'll make your meal for you any way you like it," Carolan said. "Our atmosphere is casual or that of a neighborhood store and our customers come into our shop seven times a month on the average. We also provide very credible catering services for parties."

Meredith Rhoads, executive director for the Carbondale Chamber of Commerce, said Wednesday that Einstein Bros. Bagels would be a nice addition to the business community.

"I would love to see them locate here," she said. "From a personal standpoint, I have eaten at their restaurants and you get a lot of choices for the type of food that they serve. I think it would be very popular with the student population here and would also bring new jobs to the community."

Carolan said that anyone interested in becoming a franchise owner is welcome to contact Kevin Kruse, vice president of franchise development for the Einstein Noah Restaurant Group, at (609) 737-7266.