Meet the Team

Founder / Owner

Brad

What do you get when you cross 4 parts basketball coach, 3 parts commodity trader, 2 parts lawyer and 1 part college professor? A left-handed bagel maker, of course. Meet Lefty, a.k.a. Brad, owner and founding bageler of LRB. His bagel journey started growing up on the North Shore, eating lox and bagels on Sunday mornings. But, after a family trip to Montreal in the early 1990’s introduced Brad to that city’s iconic bagel bakeries, a passion for amazing wood-fired bagels was indelibly ingrained into his mind and tummy. Fast forward to now, and the dream of opening an artisan bagel shop is soon to become a reality!

A bit of a bagel purist, his fav bagel is Pink Himalayan Salt with classic cream cheese. Toasted bagel, of course!

Director of Hospitality

Kari

There's no better job for Kari than the Director of Hospitality, Staff, and Fun.

Always on the lookout for ways to create memorable experiences, she brings a people-centered focus to the LRB team. Combining her background in the hospitality industry and leadership coaching experience, she is committed to building a one-of-a-kind customer and employee experience at LRB.

A lightly toasted Rosemary Salt with a heavy "drizzle" of olive oil is her favorite.

Head Chef / Kitchen Manager

Ashley

Ashley brings over 20 years of kitchen experience to Lefty’s Righteous Bagels, where she leads the back of house with heart, skill, and bold flavors. A fine-dining veteran, she’d never made a bagel until joining the LRB crew in August—now she’s in a full-on relationship with the dough, the kettle, and the wood-fired oven.

An Evanston native with Irish roots, Ashley draws on global and local influences to dream up new sandwiches, salads, and bialys. Outside the kitchen, she’s a super-mom of three, a passionate gardener, and the creative force behind Ashley Bakes—because one oven just isn’t enough.

Her go-to order? A rosemary sea salt bagel with giardiniera cream cheese.

Cafe Manager – Evanston

Brenna

Since August 2024, Brenna has been holding down the coffee bar at LRB's Evanston shop... and if you're a regular, you already know her.

Almost two years in, her favorite part of the job is still the people – and the pups. (Yes, we do pup cups. Yes, they are the highlight of the morning.)

Brenna is always cooking up ways to keep things fresh and seasonal behind the coffee bar.

Her go-to? A toasted rosemary pink salt bagel with lemon dill cream cheese, and a simple flat white. Classic, considered, and exactly right.

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Nicole knows LRB from the inside out — she spent a year behind the bar at our Evanston shop before helping open our Sketchbook Brewing Co. location in Skokie, where she's been running the show since day one. With three years of barista experience under her belt, she's the person making sure every cup at Sketchbook is worth coming back for.

Her order of choice? Kerrygold Cheddar bagel with lemon dill schmear, paired with a classic vanilla latte with a touch of cinnamon.

Cafe Manager – Sketchbook

Nicole

Meet the Team

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