Luke's Bagels relocating to former Red Onion Grill site in Gainesville
As Frank Sinatra famously sang in the opening line of "New York, New York," Luke's Bagels is ready to start "spreading the news" about its new home in Gainesville.
Luke's Bagels Managing Partner Jason Hurst told The Sun on July 8 that the popular bagel shop is moving into the former Red Onion Grill space at 3885 NW 24th Blvd. in Uptown Village. The business will officially open the new location on July 10 and plans to give customers an immersive New York-inspired experience.
"We have taken our dough-making process and put it into this really cool replica of an MTA, or New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority booth," Hurst said. "So while you're waiting for your food and your orders inside the place, you can watch the dough being made in real time."
To enhance the New York atmosphere, the shop features subway-style tile and a 20-by-10-foot mural behind the serving line. Hurst said Luke's Bagels commissioned a Russian artist known for city-themed artwork to create the piece, which incorporates characters inspired by "The Wolf of Wall Street" and "Wall Street" blended into graffiti-style art.
Hurst said the company had no plans to leave its Main Street location but learned toward the end of 2025 that it would need to relocate after the property owner decided to sell the site for redevelopment.
The new permanent location will be open daily from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will feature an expanded menu. New offerings include bagel chips, drip coffee, salads, and New York-style cheesecakes and cannolis made in partnership with a local bakery. Hurst said a full espresso and latte menu is expected later this month.
Unlike the former location, the Uptown Village space includes an outdoor patio with porch lighting and additional seating. Customers will also be able to bring pets to the patio, where water bowls will be available.
"We did not have the best elements while people were waiting since people had to wait in the rain and hop in their car or wait in the sun," Hurst said. "So we wanted a space where you can wait in some AC while interacting with our process and team. We also want to open the space for fundraisers, churches, student organizations - we want it to be a community space and not just a place to get bagels."
The move comes during a broader period of growth and transition for the company. Hurst said Luke's Bagels closed its location near the University of Florida earlier this summer and is exploring opportunities for another Gainesville location, either downtown or in midtown.
Beyond Gainesville, the company recently expanded into Central Florida. Hurst said Luke's Bagels opened a location in Orlando at 1412 Alden Road in late June.
Hurst encouraged customers to visit the Main Street location one final time before it closes for good at the end of business on July 10.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Luke's Bagels relocating to former Red Onion Grill site in Gainesville
Reporting by Elliot Tritto, Gainesville Sun / The Gainesville Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect
This story was originally published July 9, 2026 at 10:59 AM.