Between Rounds Brings Its Bagels (And More) to Tolland

Citgo gas station owner Sami Khan is not only opening the first Tolland-based Between Rounds store, known in the Hartford area for its fresh-baked bagels, he is also helping to perfect the company's first on-the-go bagel shop.

"To me, quality was number one," Khan said of the shop's bakery products. The food quality convinced Khan to try out the new franchise model with Between Rounds co-founder Jerry Puiia. Puiia said that he hopes to open more on-the-go franchises in gas stations to join the company's traditional bakery cafes in Manchester, Vernon and South Windsor.

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"With each location we open, the concept will become more defined," Puiia said. For their first try in Tolland, Between Rounds will be selling breakfast, lunch and dinner foods, picked up fresh-baked from the Vernon location every day. Sandwich and breakfast platters and other catering services will also be available.

"We're not just doing baked goods and coffee," Puiia said. He added that breakfast sandwiches will be cooked with real eggs and that muffins, cookies and bagels would be baked right in Tolland.

Puiia and Khan said that the Tolland location will be completely up and running by the end of January. 

Between Rounds has been in business in the Hartford area for 21 years, Puiia said.

Business owners looking to open their own franchise or to sell Between Rounds products in their stores can send an email to Franchise@BetweenRoundsFranchise.com or call 860-291-0323.