Manhattan Bagel®, the popular neighborhood bagel bakery featuring genuine New York style bagels, is pleased to announce the signing of a development agreement with Akram Kwaik to open a Manhattan Bagel restaurant in Summit, New Jersey.

Kwaik, a resident of Montville, N.J., has been a franchisee for nine years and operates six other Manhattan Bagel Restaurants in central and northern New Jersey.

“Summit is the perfect location for Manhattan Bagel,” Kwaik said. “The crave-able food and comfortable atmosphere of the popular Manhattan Bagel brand fit in well with the area. I am pleased to bring its neighborhood-friendly atmosphere and variety of great-tasting menu items with high-quality ingredients and quick-casual service to Summit.”

“Akram is an outstanding franchisee, and we have the utmost confidence that he will continue to represent everything the brand stands for,” said Kevin Kruse, vice president of franchise development with Manhattan Bagel. “Residents of Summit can expect to enjoy the same great food and service he provides customers at his other restaurants. We are committed to supporting Akram and all of our franchisees, present and future, as the system continues to grow.”

Kwaik’s agreement with Manhattan Bagel is the second recent franchise expansion deal for the brand. The company also just announced a new store planned for the Greater Cherry Hill, New Jersey, area.

Manhattan Bagel’s innovative menu items include 15 flavors of bagels and a wide variety of cream cheeses, made-to-order breakfast and lunch sandwiches, fresh salads, hearty soups, baked goods for breakfast and afternoon snacks, along with premium coffees. The chain’s hot breakfast and lunch sandwiches are grilled, a distinguishing characteristic in the quick-casual bakery segment that provides Manhattan Bagel with a competitive edge. Most chains use microwaves to heat their sandwiches.

Manhattan Bagel’s full menu is available all day.

“We are very excited about the strong interest being shown in the Manhattan Bagel brand from experienced restaurant operators,” said Paul Carolan, senior vice president of franchising and licensing for Einstein Noah Restaurant Group, franchisor of the Manhattan Bagel brand. “Manhattan Bagel has been a solid performer over the last two decades, and we see a bright future ahead of us with solid franchise partners on board.”