In the spring of 2025, Tilly Bagel Shop opened a new location in the West Loop neighborhood. The expansion provides residents in the area with the opportunity to enjoy what Tilly’s has to offer.
Since 2023, Tilly Bagel Shop’s South Loop location has been a staple in the Jones College Prep community. With a wide range of bagels and hospitable staff, students and teachers alike love to grab a bite before school or during lunch periods.
“I think they have as close to what I like in a bagel that I found in the city,” said visual arts teacher Lance Larsen. “I like the variety of types of bagels they have. I like the seasonality and how they mix things up a bit.”
The diversity of the menu draws in a diverse set of customers, ranging from those with dietary restrictions to those who simply want to mix up their order from time to time.
“I enjoy that Tilly Bagel offers me a bunch of flavors and vegan options for me,” said Nina Djurovic ‘26. “It’s really nice to have a vegan cream cheese option, and it’s so cheap.”
Students also noticed the friendliness and work ethic of the workers.
“I really appreciate the people that work there. They always seem actively engaged in the work that they do and they seem to really care about the product they sell,” said Larsen.
Beyond food and service quality, Tilly’s spacious interior attracts students looking to relax and eat with friends.
“I like the little couch area, it’s very comfy and you can sit down with friends,” said Eleanor Marchese ‘26. “It’s very close to Jones, so if you don’t want to trek, it’s a great spot.”
Just two miles from the original location, Tilly’s West Loop addition keeps many of their best features, with a few added bonuses.
“I thought it was beautiful. There was a lot of light coming in from the windows,” said Alison Becker ‘26. “It was very spacious and had a really good vibe. The bagels were phenomenal.”
The location offers a larger space than the original, complete with a dining room and a mobile pickup shelf.
“It was definitely bigger than the one by Jones…The dining space had comfy chairs and stools. It was really nice,” said Becker.
Similar to the South Loop location, the freshness and selection of the bagels stood out to customers.
“They had a great selection of bagels, lots of variety. My bagel was really warm and I could see people making the bagels in the back,” said Becker. “I got a garlic and rosemary bagel with bacon and chive cream cheese. It was amazing.”
It wouldn’t be Tilly Bagel without amazing service and staff, and the West Loop location did not fail to deliver.
“It was high quality service. They gave me my drink right away, and then my bagel was shortly after,” said Becker. “The people taking my order were also really nice.”
The one downside of the location is its distance from Jones, potentially making it less appealing to students.
“It was definitely further from Jones, so it would be harder to get to before or after school,” said Becker.
Despite its separation from Jones, the location is a great option for those in the West Loop neighborhood, or even die-hard Tilly’s fans interested in a new spot.
“The location was very nice and walkable if you’re in the area, or you could drive there if you really like it,” said Becker.
Tilly Bagel Shop remains a beloved spot for Jones students, and its expansion brings even more excitement.
“It gets really busy in Tilly’s, like a big rush, especially when school is in season,” said Marchese. “They’re very organized and they keep their cool and act super nice. So props to them.”
