MIDDLETOWN – A new, but familiar, breakfast spot bringing freshness and a variety of flavors has opened in Middletown. Surf Bagel opened its latest location on Route 299 late last week.
The 4,200 square feet Surf Bagel Middletown has been well received by its new community, according to Surf Bagel President Matt Patton.
“The response from the greater Middletown community has been incredible,” he told the Delaware Business Times. “We are so grateful for the warm welcome that we have received, especially from community members like our first responders, teachers, students and medical professionals.”
New York brothers and avid surfers Dave and Tom Vitella started the business in 2004 and SoDel Concepts acquired it in November 2021 with the intent of adding a more breakfast-focused eateries to the area. At the time, SoDel President Scott Kammerer said there was a chance to open more Surf Bagels in Delaware – and that became a reality a year later with its Milford location.
Since then, SoDel has opened three other Surf Bagel locations, including two closer to the beaches. The Middletown site is the company’s most northern restaurant.
Surf Bagel Middletown offered 35 employment opportunities to the community and Patton says they are still hiring.
“Creating a fun, stable, and welcoming work environment for our employees has always been a top priority and we will continue to build on that culture in Middletown. We are all working hard to earn a reputation as a trusted employer and community partner,” he said.
Patton added that bringing the brand to the growing area of Middletown felt like a perfect opportunity.
“Surf Bagel has been looking for the right opportunity to expand into New Castle County for a while. When we got the opportunity to open in Middletown, we knew it would be perfect,” he told DBT. “The community has really grown over the last few years and is home to an awesome school district and countless great businesses – we just knew it was the right fit for our first location in New Castle County.”
Although the company doesn’t have any specific plans for expansion beyond Middletown at this time, Patton said they are exploring more options in Delaware’s most northern county.
