From Banana Block to three Belfast locations: Bodega Bagels grows across the city
Bodega Bagels grew from a home-based start-up and Banana Block resident into a Belfast food brand with three permanent locations across the city.
Bodega Bagels has grown from a home-based lockdown project into a Belfast food business with three permanent locations - and Banana Block has been an important part of that journey.
Founded in 2021 by Steven and Kirsty Orr, Bodega began at home before moving through a series of pop-ups. In April 2022 the business took up residence at Banana Block, giving the team a regular base from which to build its customer following, develop its menu and grow its catering operation.
That next step came in October 2024, when Bodega opened its first dedicated bricks-and-mortar bakery and store on Royal Avenue in Belfast city centre. Contemporary coverage reported that the move created six additional jobs and built on the customer base developed through Banana Block and earlier pop-ups.
In summer 2025, Bodega expanded again with a third outlet at HALT at Weavers Cross, inside the former Europa Buscentre beside Belfast Grand Central Station. The business now trades from Royal Avenue, HALT and its original Banana Block home.
For Portview, Bodega is a strong example of what flexible, public-facing space can help an early-stage business achieve. Banana Block gave a young food business a place to test, trade and build an audience without requiring its first move to be a conventional standalone shop.
Bodega has continued to grow beyond the site while maintaining its connection to Portview. On its own website, the team still describes Banana Block as “The OG” - the place where the business began after moving out of the founders’ garage.
That progression - from start-up, to regular trading space, to multiple Belfast locations - is exactly the kind of enterprise journey Portview wants to make possible.
Source links
• Bodega Bagels - current locations and story
• The Irish News - first city-centre store announcement, October 2024
