Invest in Zeitlin’s Delicatessen Bagel Bonds

Imagine enjoying the best bagels, challahs, babkas, and knishes, not just at farmers' markets but at our very first storefront in Lincoln Park! Welcome to Zeitlin's Deli, where our passion for authentic Jewish food meets the dynamic energy of Chicago.

With this campaign, we aim to raise the necessary funds to build our dream welcoming space, blending culinary tradition with community spirit. 

By supporting us, you're not just investing in a business; you're investing in a tastier, more connected community. Together, we can turn Zeitlin's into a cornerstone of Chicago's vibrant food scene.

In 2023, we launched our initial Wefunder campaign to raise funds for opening our brick-and-mortar store. Thanks to our amazing supporters, we raised $95k, having no lease and no clear idea of what neighborhood to settle in.

Now, after months of searching for the perfect location, we are happy to announce that we have signed a lease in Lincoln Park. We have found an incredible place that fits our budget, needs, and vision for the future. 

What we raised in 2023 took us this far. Now, we need your investments to help us build it into our community’s dream storefront!

We are excited to announce that we have signed a lease in Lincoln Park, Chicago! This vibrant neighborhood will be the new home for Zeitlin's Deli's first storefront.

Located at 2203 N Clybourn Ave, this place is an ideal choice for our first "full-sized deli" as it previously housed a restaurant, making it a second-generation store, something that we actively sought after. 

This ready-to-use setup minimizes our initial build-out costs and allows us to focus on creating an exceptional customer experience.

In addition to its functional advantages, the store is ideally situated near Logan Square, a vibrant market area that has consistently welcomed us and our products. 

This prime location ensures a steady flow of customers and aligns with our goal of becoming a beloved community hub.

We aim to open our store around May/June 2025, and we need your investment to make that happen. 

Why not ask for donations instead of investments? We want to give back every cent our supporters lend us and more! That’s why we have created Zeitlin’s Delicatessen’s Bagel Bonds! 

We are relaunching our Bagel Bonds so our investors can get great returns in addition to a unique Deli in an incredible neighborhood. 

While they watch their investments grow, they can decide whether to receive those interests back in cash or in the form of mouthwatering bagels!

Discover Zeitlin’s Bagel Bonds

• Tasty COMPOUND Returns: Invest now and enjoy 5% annual compound interest over the next five years. Those interests go up to 28% just by being compound!
• Choice of Rewards: Convert your returns to food products and increase your interest by up to 15%. That’s almost 47% after five years of compound interests!
• Flexible amounts: Whether you want to invest $250 or $10,000, we've got a place for you.

Super easy:

• Head to the “Invest” section at the top of the page. 
• Choose how much you want to invest in Bagel Bonds
• Click Invest, and that’s it! 

Bagel bonds investment details

They consist of a 5% compound interest promissory note with a 5-year maturity. However, if the investor decides to convert those interests into food items, the returns increase by 15%. 

It works as a regular bond, with interest earnings paid by the end of the term but with the possibility of getting more out of it (if you love bagels). 

Keep in mind that Bagel Bonds are promissory notes, meaning we may repay them early, allowing you to get your investment back sooner. However, the earlier you redeem your investment, the less interest you'll earn.

Don’t forget about Perks!

Zeitlin’s Bagel Bonds also have fun perks depending on the amount invested. 

Wait, is there a new perk?

Yes! We are adding a perk for the minimum investment ($250) that consist on getting your name placed on our future Investors' Wall!

This way, all our investors' names get their well-deserved space in the store!

Why investing in Zeitlin’s is a logical choice

We started at the markets without a kitchen.

Believe it or not, Zeitlin's team has worked from a Commissary kitchen since day one, and since then, we have sold out at the most relevant Farmers' Markets in Chicago. 

During 2023, Zeitlin's sold +79K Bagels only at farmers markets!

First experience working at a physical location: The Old Post Office

By the end of last year, we even got our first physical location running at From Here On, the food court at The Old Post Office. Even when it was the next logical step, it presented itself as a big challenge: How do we focus on this location while searching for our permanent storefront? Should we wait and focus on the permanent store? Do we give up the dream?

We decided to go for it all, and we have been generating profit at The Old Post Office since Day 1. 

We have been growing year by year

From 2020, when Sam started baking bagels in his kitchen, to this year, with an estimated $1mm in sales, we have shown consistent yearly growth, and the forecasts show a great 2025 once the store opens. 

There’s a market for places like ours

We believe that our Hometown, Chicago, is the Ideal Market to Launch our Flagship Store

Our physical store is more than just a place to buy bagels. It's a happy place where people can have happy moments, a center for the community to gather, and a beacon for wholesome, convenience-food-seeking people across Chicago.

The most important fact is that there’s a great market for businesses like ours. 

Why is it a great time to open a Deli in the US?

• The North American deli food market is projected to grow from USD 236.4 million in 2024 to USD 268.8 million by 2029. (Compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.6%).*
• This growth is driven by the increasing demand for ready-to-eat meals and convenience foods, reflecting changing consumer lifestyles and preferences.*
• Key trends: 
• Rising demand for healthier options, such as organic and locally sourced ingredients
• Interest in international flavors and fusion cuisines* 
• Consumers are increasingly looking for convenient yet nutritious food options, which has led to significant growth in prepacked sandwiches and savory appetizers.​* 

*Market Data Forecast​ (Market Data Forecast​).

What about Chicago?

The restaurant and deli industry in Chicago has shown resilience and growth. The total revenue generated by the restaurant industry is estimated at $8.5 billion, with a market growth rate of 4%. The deli market specifically experienced a growth rate of 6% in 2021 and continues to show promising trends​ (Market Data Forecast)​.

Source: Circana’s 2024 Food and Beverage Outlook and Market Data Forecast​ (Circana)​​

Will the store lead to more business?

Yes, Because

We currently cannot provide the “deli experience” from our location at The Old Post Office. A primary physical location will allow us to have: 

• Expanded hours: Availability to produce and sell more hours during the day (we are currently limited because of kitchen times and From Here On business hours at the Old Post Office).
• More Foot Traffic: A great location means great visibility. We can take advantage of people passing by.
• Focused efforts: With a central location, we can drive marketing efforts there and simplify users' journeys.
• A broader menu will allow us to expand our menu and serve high-profit beverages.
• A consolidated Catering unit: Bigger visibility and accessibility for meetings, presenting menu choices, arranging tastings, and more,
• More extensive Wholesale operation with significant production and distribution capabilities.
• On-demand delivery: Easier to deliver to nearby neighborhoods.
• To-go option: The most essential function is that it will account for a significant portion of our sales.

How much are we looking to gather from investments?

We raised almost 100k during the first part of the campaign. Help us raise 200k so we can move by Q4 2024!

In 2023, we had 125 investors, each paying an average of $772. In this 2024 phase, we aim to double that number to raise $200k more in investments and reach our $300k goal. 

Will you be one of them? 

Every dream needs believers.

Every vision needs visionaries.

Be the wind beneath our bagels. 🙂

Invest in Zeitlin's Deli and be a part of a delicious revolution.

If you have any questions, please ask us before purchasing your bagel bond at [email protected]