Henry Higgins Bagels Launching Retail Shop in Foster-Powell

Henry Higgins is bringing bagels to the Foster-Powell area.

The boiled bagels, which are commonly considered among the best in town, are mainly sold wholesale, or at a few farmers markets and the weekend pop-up inside the Half Pint Cafe. But now the two-year-old bagelry will have its own retail space at SE 64th Avenue and Foster Road.

"We're so excited. We literally just got the keys last night," says owner Leah Orndoff, who also lives in the neighborhood. "We have our commercial bakery on Northeast 19th and Glisan and we'll keep the baking there. But now we have our own retail space. We'll do egg and bacon sandwiches, and lunch sandwiches, with coffee from Mudd Works."

She expects to have around 14 seats, with sidewalk seating outside. In terms of decor, she says she'll keep it simple but focus on local artists, with walls adorned with a rotating cast of artwork, and the coffee mugs handmade by her friend, ceramicist Cooper Jeppesen.

Orndoff, former general manager of the revered Kettleman's bagel chain, started the company with two other Kettleman's alums two years ago, after the infamous Einstein Bagel Co. takeover. Intent on bringing "proper" bagels back to Portland (hence the reference to the professor in the film "My Fair Lady"), they began baking out of Hogan's Goat pizza in the Hollywood area. They quickly outgrew the space and now have 80 wholesale accounts.

They expect to have the cafe open by the first week of February.