FOOD

Beach Bagels renovating original location, adding one in Wilmington

They will take over former Chop's Deli downtown

Allison Ballard StarNews Staff
Beach Bagels will soon have four locations, including the Monkey Junction restaurant. [ALLISON BALLARD/STARNEWS]

Tony Di Norcia bought Beach Bagels in Wrightsville Beach in 2014. He said he realized the value of the restaurant that combines the high-energy of coffee and bagels with a laid-back beach attitude. Since then, he’s opened two other locations, one at 5226 S. College Road in Monkey Junction and another at 5906 Oleander Drive.

This year, more excitement is planned for the franchise. He is renovating the original location, which suffered damage in Hurricane Florence. And he’s signed a lease to take over the former Chop’s Deli location in downtown Wilmington. Chop's closed after the hurricane in September and didn't re-open. Owner Chris Graham confirmed that Chop's Diner at 2539 Castle Hayne Road is the only location still open.

The priority, Di Norcia said, is reopening the Wrightsville Beach restaurant. The renovation has included replacing the floors, ripping out walls and replacing the oven. It's a big project, but when the opportunity came to sign a lease for the property at 130 N. Front St., he couldn’t pass it up.

“We are really excited that we will be downtown,” he said. “It’s a great location and a great opportunity.”

Di Norcia said he is still assessing the work that needs to be done to open on Front Street.