Two of nine original vendors in Erie's Flagship City Food Hall have departed since the Erie Downtown Development Corp. opened the facility in November.

But those vacancies aren't expected to remain for long.

Just a few weeks after Blue Willow Bakery and Cafe turned out the lights, the EDDC has announced a new vendor that will take the place of the bakery.

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The second location of Jo's Brooklyn Bagels, located at 833 W. 38th St., is expected to open in the food hall by late July. This one will be called Jo's Brooklyn Bagel Too.

Like Blue Willow, the bagel shop will be the first vendor inside the food hall's North Park Row entrance.

John Persinger, CEO of the EDDC, which has invested millions of dollars to purchase, renovate and build new downtown buildings since the business-backed organization was formed in 2017, said the new location should be open by late July.

Like its location on West 38th Street, Jo's Brooklyn Bagel Too will offer bagels as well as breakfast and deli sandwiches.

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"Jo’s Brooklyn Bagel Too is a fantastic addition for the Food Hall,” said Mark Inscho, director of food and beverage operations for the EDDC. “They are a local institution with such a popular following. They will satisfy the demand in downtown for more breakfast options.”

Bagels are made in-house at Jo's Brooklyn Bagels, which has been open for more than a decade.

"I know there are a couple of other bagel places, but I feel like ours are pretty unique," said Hannah Easly, an employee of the locally-owned business.

"I think they stand out to the Erie community," she said of the bagels, which are made in special steam ovens. "I am pretty excited to be going downtown and hopefully do well. It will make it a little easier to get breakfast, lunch and dinner."

The shop offers more than a dozen different kinds of bagels and seven of its own cream cheese spreads.

Persinger said he had hoped the bagel shop could open sooner than July, but some electrical service changes will need to be made.

Jo's Brooklyn Bagel Too will host a pop-up bagel shop beginning at 8 a.m. Monday. The first 100 customers will receive a free bagel and coffee.

Like other vendors in the food hall, Jo's will pay the EDDC a percentage of its gross revenues instead of rent.

Persinger said the EDDC is working on a concept to replace the Lucky Louie's, which closed its food hall location recently but continues to operate its location on Perry Highway in Summit Township.

2018: Lucky Louie's ranked in top 10 hot dog joints in U.S.

Jim Martin can be reached at jmartin@timesnews.com.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie's Flagship City Food Hall will welcome Jo's Brooklyn Bagel Too