DELMAR – The year 2024 will usher in a new eatery at Delaware Plaza when Uncommon Grounds opens in Delmar – its fifth location. The local chain, which boasts 14 bagel flavors and also sells smoothies, sandwiches and baked goods, will replace Bruegger’s Bagels.
“Uncommon Grounds thought it would be a great place to have a shop, and Bruegger’s lease was expiring,” said Delaware Plaza Managing Director Debbie Nolan Murray.
On Dec. 14, after concluding negotiations that began this summer, Uncommon Grounds signed a 10-year lease with renewal options. Nolan Murray declined to speak about the lease details. According to her, Uncommon Grounds will take over the former Bruegger’s Bagel space within about three months when Delaware Plaza has completed initial site demolition work.
Before turning the space over to Uncommon Goods, the plaza will knock some walls down and upgrade plumbing and electrical systems.
“This space is 31 years or older so we want to present it to them in the best condition,” said Nolan Murray, who declined to reveal the cost of that work.
Uncommon Grounds will then take over the space and complete reconstruction.
“Everyone is trying to get it done as soon as possible,” Nolan Murray said.
She does not yet know what the space will look like upon completion and is waiting for Uncommon Grounds to provide architectural drawings. However, she expects that a former storage area will be turned into additional seating space and the front door may be moved for better “flow.”
She also anticipates that the shop’s hours of operation will be expanded from Bruegger’s early afternoon closing into the early evening hours. With their extended hours, Nolan Murray expects Uncommon Grounds will bring more customers to the plaza. She also believes customers will be attracted to the plaza by its “different look, different feel from Bruegger’s.”
“We hope they will stay forever and certainly hope it’s a very long time,” she said.
Nolan Murray said she isn’t worried that Delaware Plaza’s gain will negatively impact other similar local businesses like Perfect Blend Cafe and Rooted & Rind.
“This is a bagel and coffee shop just like Bruegger’s, and Bruegger’s was here for 30 years,” she said. “Everyone has their own niche around here. It’s a different dynamic.”
Perfect Blend Café’s owner Brendan McCann said he believes this will be “great” for the town and he himself has been a customer of Uncommon Grounds at its Stuyvesant Plaza location.
“We have been here for over 15 years and we get asked that question a lot, whether a new business will eat into our customer base,” he said. “Some of our products are similar, but we sell a certain environment. Of course, we start with customer service, but then we add the décor, the music, the vibe. Theirs is not like ours.”
He even said that when Uncommon Grounds opens, he plans to speak with them about “how we can work together.”
“We do wholesale that they don’t, and there may be some opportunities there,” he explained.
Stephen Pivonki, owner of Brewtus Roasting at 20 Hallwood Road, said he is looking forward to the Delaware Plaza addition.
“It will be nice to have bagels in the town. It’s all good,” he said.