Locally-owned bagel chain opens new Bluffton restaurant. Here’s where

Bluffton bagel fans have a new locally-owned option for their breakfast.

Island Bagel & Deli held a ribbon cutting ceremony Tuesday for its new restaurant in Bluffton. Island Bagel is a local business owned by Ana Rojas, an immigrant who worked her way from employee to owner.

Island Bagel already has two locations, one in Bluffton and another on Hilton Head Island. The new restaurant serves as the bagel baking center for the other two.

The restaurant is at 8230 Pinellas Drive inside a former Bojangles franchise. It opened in March and is managed by Rojas’s son, Jesse Salinas. Salinas has worked at Island Bagel for seven years, where he gained some management experience before taking over the new location.

“My mother … gave me the opportunity to take over the new store here,” Salinas said. “And being a manager is hard, but it’s also fun at the same time.”

The new restaurant features baking equipment designed to make authentic New York-style bagels. Bakers work overnight to prepare the bagels for morning customers, Rojas said.

A large crowd gathered as Rojas was congratulated by Greater Bluffton Chamber of Commerce and Bluffton Councilman Dan Wood. Rojas cut the ribbon surrounded by her family and employees. Some of her family flew in from Mexico to appear at the ceremony, she said.

“I’m so thankful for all the support, for every one of you,” Rojas said at the ceremony. “Especially I give thanks to God who is my savior. And I’m so glad that He helped me on every step to keep growing in this community.”

Before owning Island Bagel, Rojas operated a cleaning company and a food truck — Jesse’s Island Food — named for her son. The food truck served tacos, quesadillas and burritos. She worked at Island Bagel for years before taking it over from the previous owner.

Island Bagel is open every day from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. It offers a wide selection of bagels and deli sandwiches. You can view the menu here.