Popular Old Town business to close, but for once, it’s due to a happy reason

More often than not, when a business closes, it’s not for a happy reason.

However, the popular Everything & the Bagel Bread Co. is closing for one of the happiest reasons: Owners Lea and James Himes are expecting a baby in June.

“It was a huge surprise to us,” said the almost 48-year-old Lea Himes.

She said she didn’t think they could grow their family beyond 15-year-old Bryce, who is James Himes’ son from a previous marriage.

“So we just dove into the business,” Lea Himes said. “It was something else we could do that made us happy that we could do together.”

They started the sourdough-based business in late 2019. Lea Himes is a dietitian, and her co-workers encouraged her to share her creations.

“We just kind of fell into it,” Himes said.

Everything & the Bagel became a pop-up favorite and a staple at the Old Town Farm & Art Market.

“We never expected it to blow up the way it did,” Himes said.

However, the business takes each of the Himeses an extra 50 to 60 hours a week on top of full-time jobs.

“We just work insane hours trying to keep our business afloat,” Lea Himes said.

They often get up early or stay up late to make bread and bagels — the mainstays of the business — along with pastries and scones.

Lea Himes said getting up at 1, 2 or 3 in the morning, “Obviously, that’s not sustainable with a newborn.”

James Himes also works for State Farm Insurance, and Lea Himes has taken a new job with the VA Medical Center, where she’ll be working even more hours than the 30 hours a week she’s been working at the job she’s had.

Even prior to the pregnancy, Lea Himes said the business was at a crossroads and probably needed to grow into a brick-and-mortar site.

Everything & the Bagel’s last pop-up likely will be this weekend at Hopping Gnome Brewing, and the Himeses will take online orders through Feb. 26.

Lea Himes said they won’t rule out reopening one day, but for now, they’re focusing on welcoming the newest member of their family.

It’s “pretty wild,” she said. “I still am wrapping my brain around all of it.”