Owen's Bagel & Deli

Great bagels, a hip place to hang out and a unique way of creating a menu make Owen’s Bagel & Deli on South Boulevard an incredible place for anyone with a big appetite for breakfast or lunch.

Located across from the Atherton Mill and inside the “Pavilion” — a small retail complex covered in a purple and turquoise paint job — the deli serves up incredible sandwiches served on bagels imported from Long Island, New York. What makes the bagel sandwiches unique is a steaming process used creating a gooey combination of sauce, cheese and meats wrapped together in aluminum foil. All sandwiches are made with high-end cold cuts from Boar’s Head, which customers can also purchase to make their own sandwiches at home as well.

The deli traces its roots to Miami University of Ohio, where the original Bagel & Deli opened in 1975. The deli in Oxford, Ohio, is popular with the late-night barhopping crowd and is a favorite spot to get a post-midnight snack. Several alumni and former employees of the popular sandwich shop decided to recreate the experience in Charlotte. Although the sandwiches are the same, the clientele is a little different than the college hangout, as the Charlotte restaurant opens at 6:30 am and closes at 4 pm each day of the week. 

Owen’s Bagel & Deli offers more than 60 different types of bagel sandwiches — with names like the Paul Reuben, the Chia Bagel and the Mayberry Captain Midnight — and the list is always growing. The menu is growing because Owen’s Bagel & Deli accepts new additions to their menu as long as “it’s not too complicated to make,” according to the staff. But in order to have your creation make the official menu you have to come up with the name and create a drawing that can be hung with the other 50+ menu items — which all have drawings. Although the deli has printed menus, most prefer to just look up at all the drawings created by past customers. It’s as if the deli is a kindergarten classroom with dozens of drawings and collages created on construction paper hanging above the counter.

In keeping with the kindergarten classroom theme, customers are also allowed to write on the walls in permanent marker. Most people write quotes from movies, or just share with the world their love for Owen’s Bagel & Deli. The combination of the new artwork for the menu and on the walls will keep the décor of the restaurant ever changing.

Owen's Bage & Deli offers free Wi-fi inside the establishment and also provides catering services, preferring to work with smaller business and non-profits. They will also cater personal events on request.  

The unique way of presenting — and creating — their menu, along with the hip atmosphere will impress customers who walk into the hidden deli for the first time. The tasty bagel sandwiches will get them to come back again.

- by Mike D'Avria, Charlotte Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)

He worked for the daily newspaper, The Athens Banner-Herald in Athens, Ga. before turning to freelance writing and video production.

Mike is the Executive Editor of CampLeadership.org, and has lived in Charlotte for four years.