Meet Holly Pils of Boopa’s Bagel Deli in Fort Worth

Today we’d like to introduce you to Holly Pils.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
We have been in business since Feb 2000. My business partner, Lisa Underwood and I started the business together and named the business after her son, Jayden Underwood. His nickname was Boopa. We ran our business together until Feb 2005 when Lisa and Jayden were killed in their home. I would not still be in business with the foundation Lisa and I started.

I have been operating the business for the last 12 years in honor of them. The community “wrapped their arms” around me and I have done my best to take care of them ever since.

The difference between our bagel shop versus others is we make our bagels from scratch with King Arthur flour. The bagels are never frozen. Most important we kettle-boil our bagels. Kettle boiling is the only way to produce a bagel in it most authentic form. Kettle boiling activates the yeast instantly and allows the dough to rise properly in the oven. This is how bagels are made in New York and the north east in the original bagel shops started at the beginning of the 1900’s “If your bagel is not boiled, it is just bread with a hole in it”. This is my tag line and something I say every day to my customers.

Also, the difference between our bagel shop and others is we take care of our customers. We go the extra mile to provide quick, quality and caring service. Our customers come from all over the metroplex to get a good bagel. When someone from the northeast tell me that this bagel reminds them of “home”, that is the highest compliment we can receive. It means we are doing it right!

We also have an amazing product called the “Boopalache”, which is a bagel wrapped Eckrich sausage in 3 flavors: plain, jalapeño, and everything (poppy, garlic, sesame, and onion. It is our most popular item beside the Egg sandwiches on a bagel.

We also make 14 different flavors of cream cheese, and deli sandwiches on a bagel made with Boar’s Head Deli meat.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Owning a small business is never a smooth road. 17 years of hard work and making sure all the bills are paid and all customers are taken care of takes a lot of effort. We are in a great community and I have great employees.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I define success daily by taking great care of my customers. Baking great bagels every day. Also for me failure is not an option and that is how I have operated since Lisa and Jayden passed. Because I could never let them down. The bagel business in Texas is different than other parts of the country. Bagel are staple in many sections of the country but not Texas. We are a niche business. A specialty product so to speak. People have always asked me why aren’t there more Boopa’s in the Metroplex and perhaps someday there will be but bagel equipment is expensive and I am not quite ready to expand.

Pricing:

• Big Bagel Bundle (1 dozen bagels and 2 containers of cream cheese) $22.75.
• One dozen Boopalahces $13.00
• Eggel with meat $4.65

Contact Info:

• Address: 6513 N Beach St. Fort Worth, TX 76137
• Website: boopasbageldeli.com
• Phone: 817-232-4771
• Email: holly@boopasbageldeli.com
• Instagram: boopasbageldeli
• Facebook: boopasbageldeli
• Twitter: boopasbageldeli
• Yelp: Boopa’s Bagel Deli
• Other: UberEats/boopasbageldeli

Image Credit:
All photos taken by Holly Pils

Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.