Barrett’s Bagels, owned by Madison local Ben Anderson is set to open fall 2026 — giving a physical storefront to a beloved local business. The shop is renovating 3742 Speedway Rd. with previous shop Sunset Yarn closing this summer, according to the Wisconsin State Journal.
Anderson is a Madison local, living on the Near West Side with his family, including 3-year-old son, Barrett, who bears the family name of his business. Anderson has been making bagels professionally for three years and began selling them at the Monroe Street Market in 2023.
Anderson’s brother and mother own another local business in Madison, similarly called Barrett Wool Company, so when the popularity of Anderson’s business began to outgrow its shared kitchen, he knew he wanted to stick close to home.
Enter Lynette Tucker, owner of Sunset Yarn, a cozy yarn shop which opened in 2020 — transcending the covid pandemic as a space for local vendors and Madison’s tenacious knitting community.
“I’ve looked at a lot of spaces that were either new builds or much bigger facilities or, you know, more destinations, and I really just wanted something that was part of the neighborhood,” Anderson said. “So when this came available, and this made sense, it was just like the absolute perfect fit.”
The future home of Barrett’s Bagels, 3742 Speedway Rd, has housed small businesses in Madison for almost 100 years, according to Anderson.
The community reaction to Barrett’s Bagels has been overwhelming, Anderson said.
“The biggest thing for me is just that the neighborhood seems a fit,” Anderson said. “I’ve heard from so many people that live down the street or next door, or whoever has friends there, their kids drive there on their way to school, past it. It meant a lot for me to have a neighborhood shop.”
In the new space, Ben Anderson hopes to keep the business stable, while hiring staff and expanding his menu with seasonal options. Staying true to his roots, Barrett’s Bagels will continue to take part in the Monroe Street Market when it returns to Edgewood High School May through October 2026.
Barrett’s Bagels’ new storefront will be accessible for University of Wisconsin students as well, through a 23 minute bus ride on the J line, according to Anderson. Students are a big part of the city, and the store plans on doing stuff for game days, Anderson said.
After an outpouring of community support for his business, Ben Anderson said he is excited for what’s to come.
“I honestly just feel really lucky. It’s also a huge step and transition for Lynette, who’s retiring, and I’m happy for her as well,” Anderson said, expressing gratitude for Tucker’s role in his business’s new space. “Her pursuing a deal with a small business owner opposed to, you know, looking at a redevelopment option. It’s just awesome for the lineage of that business. It’s just very, very impactful, and she should be celebrated for that.”
