Dank Bowl Kitchen will officially close on Thursday, March 21st, with same owner Yetz's Bagels taking over. The closure marks the end of 14 years of Dunk Bowl Kitchen's macaroni bread bowls and other “munchies” symbolizing its pro-cannabis ethos.
Dank Bowls will close on March 21st, and the pop-up Yetz's Bagels will take over under the same ownership. Maddie Fangio / Daily nexus
Yetz's Bagels opened in February as an experimental pop-up at Dunk Bowl Kitchen on the Embarcadero del Mar from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., but was scheduled to return to its original menu at 3 p.m.
Run by University of California, Santa Barbara alumnus and Dunk Bowl Kitchen founder Daniel Dunietz, Fully Realized Yates Bagels takes inspiration from Dunk Bowl Kitchen's selections and offers a variety of stuffed “bagel bombs.” ” and other additional elements will be included.
“Instead of a sourdough bowl that we're buying from a bakery that can't afford to sell to people, we're going to make it from scratch, do it with bagels, and honestly, we're going to make a bagel sandwich based on my idea. 'I'm of the opinion that it's going to be a lot better,''' Dunietz said.
Yetz's Bagels will be the other Isla Vista location with a bagel-focused menu, joining IV Bagel Cafe. Dunietz believes his shop is bringing the only true New York-style bagels to Isla Vista.
Dunietz said he decided to close Dunk Bowl Kitchen because purchases tripled during the morning hours, catering requests increased and the bagel business became a wholesaler to local stores like Dawn Café. decided.
“It's faster, it's easier, it's more portable, it's cheaper to make. You can sell it cheaper. And it's a great product to sell,” Dunietz said.
Dunietz originally planned to open a cannabis-themed bagel shop in 2010. called At the time, it was called Buddha Bowls, but there were no bagel shops in town. Instead, he struck a deal with the bakery for a bread bowl. All of Yetz's Bagels' breads are made in-house.
“We started selling things that we made completely from scratch. Every step of the way, we start with flour, yeast and water,” Dunietz said. “It connects me to the roots that led me to food. It connects me to my ancestors, to my Jewish community, and to Poland, where I come from. Made the same way it has been for centuries. This is food that has been eaten for a long time.”
Ultimately, Dunk Bowl Kitchen was an unsustainable business, Dunietz said. Because of the price, large quantities, and the “heavy” nature of the bowls, customers could not frequent the store enough. The business also required Dunietz to work 60 to 80 hours a week, earning him less than minimum wage after business costs.
“People can afford a $6 breakfast sandwich, but they can't always afford a $15, $16, $17 bread bowl,” Dunietz said.
In any case, Dunietz will remain in Isla Vista's food and beverage industry.
“I think IVs 100% deserve Yetz's Bagels, and we don't want to take that away from the IV community,” Dunietz said. “Especially with the future, the ideas and new menu that I've been working on for the last three or four months. This is pretty exciting stuff.”
“I love a good bagel. And that's what I do.”
