Phillip Rice’s Bagel Empire Starts in Ballantyne

🥯 A Schmear Genius: Ballantyne’s Einstein Bros Is a Morning Must

By Nell Thomas | Strolling Ballantyne contributor & bagel obsessive

For those of us waking up in Ballantyne and wondering where to find something hot, fresh, and mildly addictive (and no, I’m not talking about Bravo reruns), Einstein Bros Bagels has quietly cornered the market on breakfast joy.

Tucked off Conlan Circle, this beloved shop bakes their bagels fresh in-house, skips preservatives entirely, and serves the kind of piping-hot coffee that makes you forgive Charlotte traffic for exactly 17 minutes. Franchisee Phillip Rice has been running this location—and the one on South Boulevard—for over a decade. He now operates 36 Einstein Bros and Moe’s Southwest Grill franchises across the U.S. But this Ballantyne location? It was his first build. His baby. His breakfast masterpiece.

“I’m a morning person,” Phillip told us, reminiscing about his dishwasher days at Tim Horton’s back in Ohio. “Bagels just made sense.” And trust us, so does his menu.

Whether you’re into egg sandwiches stacked with cheddar, bacon, syrup, and honey almond shmear (yes, that’s one sandwich), or you’re trying to “go light” with a turkey sausage and egg white option—Einstein Bros offers something between indulgence and survival.

Then there’s the lox. Phillip’s go-to order is lox on an everything bagel, five days a week. And we respect that. That’s leadership.

In the era of drive-thru domination and “I forgot to eat again” mornings, Einstein’s delivers—literally. They have dedicated drivers for catering (ebcatering.com), and orders can be scheduled as early as 6 a.m. The pandemic changed the business, but Phillip and his crew adapted. Their kitchen stayed reliable. Their employees stayed long-term. Some have been with him since his Charlotte start in 2011.

“We close at 2 p.m.,” Phillip said. “That way, our team gets home to their families.” You won’t find that on the dollar menu at McAnywhere.

Beyond the bagels, Phillip’s commitment to community runs deep. “Churches, nonprofits—we always try to help where we can,” he said. “Charlotte’s given me a lot. Giving back is the least we can do.”

Speaking of giving back, have you met our partners?

🛠️ At The Hop Auto Services will detail your vehicle to showroom glory—ceramic coating included.
🌍 WanderLuxuryTravel will plan your escape from pollen, traffic, and reality with white-glove precision.

Sip and Stroll Reminder:
🗓️ RSVP now for our May 22 event at Ballantyne Country Club! Good bagels and glossy cars welcome.
👉 Click here to RSVP
📖 Event Info Here

💌 Subscribe to more delicious dispatches from your favorite hyper-local haunt:
👉 https://strolling-ballantyne.beehiiv.com/subscribe

📸 Got a bagel selfie or a story we should know?
💬 Send it to ballantyne@strollmag.com — everyone has a story worth sharing!

Nell’s Signature:
Still sipping lukewarm drip from a reusable mug I swear I cleaned. Catch me scribbling notes at Einstein’s with cream cheese on my sleeve and no regrets.
—Nell Thomas, senior writer at CLTMercury.com and loyal to the Ballantyne brunch beat.