For generations of Columbus bagel lovers, Block’s Bagels was so much more than just another breakfast stop. Now, the recipe that made Block’s a local institution is making its return.
Anything Bagel is opening on August 14 at 6115 McNaughten Center, taking over the longtime East Side home of Block’s Bagels. The new shop says it has inherited the original Block’s bagel recipe and is committed to making its bagels the same way generations of Columbus residents remember.
Block’s Bagels served the city for nearly six decades after opening in 1967. Following the passing of founder Harold Block in 2025, the beloved business closed its locations, leaving many longtime customers wondering if they’d ever get to enjoy those classic bagels again.
The McNaughten Center location briefly reopened under Cincinnati-based Marx Bagels, but that venture closed earlier this year as the company shifted its focus back to its Cincinnati stores.
Now, Anything Bagel is hoping to write the next chapter.
The space has been refreshed with a new black-and-yellow design, but the biggest draw may be what’s coming out of the ovens. Alongside the original Block’s recipe bagels, the shop will serve breakfast sandwiches, deli sandwiches, and other café favorites.
The new business also plans to put its own stamp on the neighborhood with a weekly “Bake It Forward” menu item. Each week, Anything Bagel will feature a rotating specialty bagel, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting a local cause.
The community-minded approach has already become part of the shop’s launch.
To celebrate opening week, Anything Bagel is giving one customer free bagels for a year, with the winner receiving a dozen bagels each month for the next 12 months.
Anything Bagel officially opens on Thursday, August 14, and will be open daily from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For plenty of Columbus residents, the return of the original Block’s recipe may be reason enough to stop by. For everyone else, it’s a chance to see what made one of the city’s longest-running bagel shops such a local favorite.
Featured image by Claudio Schwarz on Unsplash.
