Bagel chain Call Your Mother signs a third Philly location before the first two have opened

Call Your Mother, the Washington, D.C.-based bagel sandwich shop, has signed for a third Philadelphia location, before its first two have spread a single schmear.

The chain, founded eight years ago by husband-and-wife team Andrew Dana and chef Daniela Moreira, will open at the Jessup House apartment building at 12th and Sansom Streets in Washington Square West. The new shop will join under-construction locations in the former Metropolitan Bakery space at 262 S. 19th St. near Rittenhouse Square, and in a new building at 1500 Frankford Ave., across from El Chingón Fishtown.

Fishtown is expected to open first, around Aug. 31, followed just weeks later by Rittenhouse Square, Dana said. Washington Square West likely will open in early 2027.

Dana told The Inquirer that Call Your Mother committed to a third Philadelphia location before opening the first two because of “simple math” and confidence in the market.

Three locations in one city would justify hiring an area manager to oversee general managers at each shop. Just as important, he said, is the company’s belief that Philadelphia will embrace the concept. “We’re just that bullish on Philadelphia,” he said. The strategy echoes that of other fast-growing regional chains entering the market, including New York-based 7th Street Burger, which has signed four Philadelphia-area leases before opening its first restaurant.

The chain has grown rapidly since Dana, a former pizza food-truck operator whose mother grew up in Germantown, and Moreira, an Argentine-born chef, opened the original Call Your Mother in Washington in October 2018. The couple met while haggling over the last carton of eggs at a Washington farmer’s market. They eventually became business partners before marrying.

The restaurant’s name came after months of brainstorming. Looking for something that captured the playful spirit of Jewish deli culture, Dana asked friends, “What’s something funny our Jewish moms or grandmothers would say?” The answer “was like fireworks went off in my brain,” Dana said. “I said, ‘Oh my God, that’s it.’”

Dana envisioned a brand inspired by the bright colors and easygoing vibe of the South Florida delis he visited while spending time with his grandparents in Boca Raton. Moreira’s upbringing in Argentina brought a fresh perspective to the menu, which pairs hand-rolled bagels with inventive sandwiches and toppings. (Example: the Alta Gracia Choripán, which layers smoked Argentine chorizo, chimichurri, and pickled vegetables on a poppy seed Hawaiian bagel bun.)

Today, Call Your Mother operates 23 locations, with an additional six to eight in development, including the three in Philadelphia. Beyond Philadelphia, new stores are planned for the Washington suburbs, Colorado, and Chicago.

The company’s expansion accelerated after it sold a majority stake in January 2025 to New York investment firm Invus, an early investor in Cava. Dana said the deal was less about fueling rapid expansion than finding a long-term partner that would provide additional resources while allowing the founders to continue running the business.

“We didn’t need outside capital, so we were only going to do it if we found the right partner,” Dana said. “There’s no mandate that says we have to open a certain number of stores. If food quality or the guest experience starts slipping, we can take our foot off the gas and strengthen the foundation.”

The 12th Street shop will occupy ground-floor space in Jessup House, whose other commercial tenants include Rival Bros Coffee and Solidcore. Dana expects it to seat about 20 people. Like the chain’s other locations, it will offer counter service for dine-in and takeout.

Dana said the neighborhood appealed because it has a dense residential population, strong daytime foot traffic, and nearby hospitals, creating the kind of all-day customer base the company enjoys at several Washington-area stores.

The restaurants, open from 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays and until 3 p.m. on weekends, position themselves as bagel sandwich shops rather than breakfast restaurants. Breakfast and lunch draw roughly equal business, though sandwiches account for the bulk of sales, Dana said.

Philadelphia has become a hot bagel market, but Dana welcomes the competition.

“We’re big believers that all boats rise with the tide,” he said. “We’re always looking for ways to create great bagel sandwiches, and we think Philadelphia is the kind of city that appreciates that.”