National Bagel Day is a highly anticipated event for consumers across the United States, offering a variety of promotional deals and freebies from major bagel chains and local shops. Historically celebrated on February 9, the holiday has seen a shift in dates due to conflicts with National Pizza Day. In 2019, Thomas’ Breads attempted to establish January 15 as a separate National Bagel Day to avoid overlapping with pizza promotions. However, many national chains continued to honor the traditional February 9 date for their promotional activities.
The landscape of National Bagel Day deals varies significantly by location, brand, and participating franchise owners. Offers range from completely free bagels with no purchase necessary to discounts on bulk purchases or specific menu items. Additionally, some brands utilize the holiday to launch new products, support charitable causes, or drive traffic to their rewards programs.
The Date Dispute: January vs. February
Confusion regarding the correct date for National Bagel Day was prevalent in 2019. Thomas’ Breads, a major manufacturer of bagels and breads, declared January 15 as the official National Bagel Day. This move was designed to secure a dedicated spotlight for bagels, distinct from National Pizza Day, which falls on February 9.
Despite this declaration by Thomas’, many national bagel chains and retailers maintained their promotional schedules for February 9. Consequently, consumers seeking deals had to monitor both dates, as offers were scattered throughout the month of January and early February.
National Chain Promotions
Several major national bagel chains offered specific promotions on or around National Bagel Day. These deals often required customers to sign up for email lists or join rewards programs to access the best offers.
Bruegger’s Bagels
Bruegger’s Bagels consistently provides significant value to customers during National Bagel Day celebrations. In 2019, the brand utilized its "Inner Circle" rewards program to distribute coupons. * January 15 Promotion: Members of the Inner Circle received a coupon for one free bagel with the cream cheese of their choice, valid with any in-store purchase. Additionally, members who checked in at a Bruegger’s location on January 15 were entered into a sweepstakes to win a year’s supply of bagels. * February 9 Promotion: New members who signed up for the Inner Circle program received a coupon for a free bagel and cream cheese. Existing members received a coupon for $2 off a $5 purchase, valid through February 9.
Einstein Bros. Bagels
Einstein Bros. Bagels aligned its promotions with the February 9 date in 2019, offering a "buy one, get one" style deal. * The Offer: Customers received a free bagel with the schmear of their choice with the purchase of any other item. * Gift Component: Guests who visited an Einstein Bros. location on National Bagel Day also received a coupon for a free bagel that they could gift to a friend or family member.
Noah’s Bagels
Noah’s New York Bagel Company offered a promotion on February 9 that required a purchase to unlock the free item. * The Offer: With any purchase, customers could enjoy a free bagel and schmear.
Manhattan Bagel
Manhattan Bagel, which operates locations in seven states, offered a low-cost option for customers on February 9. * The Offer: Customers could purchase a bagel with cream cheese for only 99 cents with any other purchase. * Restrictions: There was a limit of two discounted bagels per customer. The deal excluded "gourmet bagels," such as bialys and French toast bagels.
Thomas’ Breads
Thomas’ Breads, the initiator of the January 15 date, focused on experiential marketing rather than traditional freebies at bagel shops. * Pop-Up Events: Thomas’ hosted free bagel pop-ups at major transit hubs and public squares across the country, including Union Station in Chicago, Larimer Square in Denver, Union Station in Los Angeles, 30th Street Station in Philadelphia, and Lynx Central Station in Orlando. * Golden Ticket Sweepstakes: Visitors to these pop-ups had the chance to find an "orange ticket" (analogous to a Willy Wonka golden ticket). Winners received a free smart watch. One lucky ticket holder in one of the cities won a $2,500 voucher for groceries.
Biggby Coffee
While primarily a coffee chain, Biggby Coffee participates in the holiday by offering deals on its bagel-based menu items. * The Offer: On February 9, the chain offered half off "Bragels," which are their bagel sandwiches.
Local and Regional Offers
In addition to national chains, local bagel shops often participate in National Bagel Day with unique promotions. For example, in New Jersey, several shops along the Shore offered specific deals on January 15.
- Bagel Nook (Freehold Township and Princeton, NJ): Known for creative bagel flavors, the shop introduced a new "Takis bagel" on National Bagel Day.
- Belmar Bagels (Belmar, NJ): Offered a "Buy one dozen, get four free" deal. They also offered half off a second bagel when purchasing a bagel with butter or cream cheese.
- Hot Bagel Bakery (Ocean Township, NJ): Provided a discount of $3 off per dozen bagels.
- Joe's Bagel and Grill (Multiple locations): Offered a "Buy one dozen, get four free" deal.
Charitable and Cause-Related Promotions
Some brands use National Bagel Day as an opportunity to support charitable causes.
- Ess-a-Bagel: Instead of giving away free bagels, this New York City-based chain announced that a percentage of all profits from National Bagel Day would be donated to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
- Chompie’s: This Arizona-based New York deli partnered with United Food Bank for the month of February. On National Bagel Day (February 9), Chompie's donated 50 cents to the United Food Bank for every bagel purchased as part of their #ChompOutHunger initiative.
Tips for Securing National Bagel Day Deals
Consumers looking to maximize their savings on National Bagel Day should be aware of the following strategies based on the mechanics of the 2019 promotions:
- Join Rewards Programs: Many of the best deals, such as those from Bruegger’s and Einstein Bros., are exclusive to members of their email clubs or rewards programs. Signing up in advance is often required to receive digital coupons.
- Check Local Listings: While national chains advertise widely, local shops often have unadvertised specials. Checking social media for hashtags like #NationalBagelDay or calling local shops directly can reveal additional offers.
- Understand Purchase Requirements: Some freebies are strictly "with purchase," meaning a customer must buy at least one item (often a drink) to receive the free bagel. Others, like the Bruegger’s Inner Circle free bagel, may require an in-store purchase as well.
- Verify Dates: Due to the split between January 15 and February 9 celebrations, consumers should verify which date their preferred retailer is honoring.
Conclusion
National Bagel Day 2019 offered a diverse array of opportunities for consumers to enjoy free or discounted bagels. The holiday was marked by a split in celebration dates, with January 15 seeing support from Thomas’ Breads and February 9 hosting the majority of major chain promotions. Deals ranged from completely free items for rewards members to bulk discounts and charitable contributions. By joining rewards programs and monitoring local shop announcements, consumers can fully participate in this annual food holiday.