LAFAYETTE, CALIFORNIA – Lafayette’s famously nostalgic Taco Bell building is getting a dramatically different next act.
It’s exciting–and we got details!
First, a bit about this historic spot. It might seem strange to call a fast food restaurant “historic”, but the Lafayette Taco Bell that closed in January was no ordinary outpost.
The restaurant dated to the 1960s, and was one of the only surviving Taco Bells with the chain’s original “Mission Style” architecture. Many locals fondly remember senior pranks in which local high schoolers would steal the metal bell the originally sat atop the building.
The pranks became so common that Taco Bell reportedly removed the bell in later years.
That meant whatever replaced the old Taco Bell was always going to be a big deal. And now, we know what’s coming in.
Sources tell us that the former Lafayette Taco Bell will soon become the latest outpost of Popup Bagels.
PopUp Bagels is a fast-growing bagel company that started in Westport, Connecticut and built its reputation around serving hot, whole bagels meant to be “Grip, Rip and Dip” rather than sliced into sandwiches.
I spoke to Stephen Rusher, who is affiliated with the brand locally. He confirmed that PopUp would be coming to Lafayette.
I also spoke to the chain’s central PR team. They wrote that “As of now, we have not confirmed a location in Lafayette, CA. We’ll certainly keep you posted on details as we have them.” So this seems to be a breaking bagel story–the best kind.
Rusher initially announced the arrival of PopUp via a Facebook post. The post has since blown up, with tons of community members weighing in.
Why?
The bagels are apparently really good! They won Best Bagel at a big New York competition multiple years in a row. They are “considered the best bagel in NYC,” Rusher told me.
The company says on its website that it focuses on a deliberately simple format: small batches, a tight menu, rotating schmears, and bagels served fresh and warm throughout the day.
That is a very different pitch from the traditional neighborhood bagel-and-breakfast-sandwich model most East Bay residents are used to.
Instead of building around a huge menu, PopUp Bagels leans into a limited set of bagels and flavored spreads. On its current ordering platform for one California shop, customers can order packs like a 3-pack of bagels and one schmear, a half-dozen with schmear, or a dozen with two schmears.
“It’s a grip it and rip it” bagel, Rusher told me.
Why this is a big deal for Lafayette
PopUp Bagels is not some tiny one-off regional chain trying a random East Bay expansion. The brand has been in aggressive growth mode.
In April 2025, the company announced franchise partnerships to open 35 Southern California locations across Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego. A few months later, it announced signed agreements for 300 new franchise locations nationwide, with California among the states in its expansion plan.
So Lafayette is likely landing a brand that is very much in its national breakout phase.
Again, this is based on Rusher, a source close to the story. Join our newsletter below and we’ll let you know when the company makes an official statement about the new spot.
That makes the former Taco Bell site feel even more interesting. For decades, it was a hyper-local landmark with old-school architectural charm. Now it appears set to become home to a trend-forward brand.
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Also, the Bay Area could always use more good bagels! Boichik Bagels is our favorite spot locally, with their new-ish store in Concord. And House of Bagels in Walnut Creek is always solid.
But Lafayette has fairly limited bagel options. Now, that appears set to change.
It’s also a big deal for architecture fans. When Taco Bell announced its closure, there was immediately concern that the historic building might be torn down–or left to fall into disrepair, as has happened to the former El Charro building down the block.
Now, Rusher confirmed to the Bay Area Telegraph that the brand will renovate the building for their new restaurant (adding ADA compliance for example), but will keep the original Mission style exterior.
“They love it,” Rusher said about the architecture. “The CEO visited and it’s one of the biggest reasons they picked the building.”
That’s what’s happened to other former Taco Bells with similar architectural chops in places around SoCal–they transformed into other restaurants.
No word yet on an exact opening date, but estimates place it later in 2026. There’s clearly a lot of work to do to get this old building ready for its bagel debut.
We’ll be following this one very closely and publishing regular updates. Make sure to join my free 925 News newsletter so I can update you as soon as we learn more.
