827 Chicago Ave. Evanston, IL. 60202 | Phone: 224-714-2245
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 McGrath 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 runs the back of house with skill, heart and serious flavors. From working the line to running pastry sections in fine dining, she's done it all. But fun fact, she had never made a bagel until she joined the LRB fam in August. Now she's basically in a committed relationship with dough, the kettle and the wood fired oven.
Originally from Evanston but with roots down in Ireland, Ashley loves to combine global and local flavors when she comes up with a new sandwich, salad or bialy flavor! When she's not running the kitchen here at Lefty's Righteous Bagels or being super-mom to her three awesome kids, she's probably in her garden or growing her sweet side hustle, Ashley Bakes--because one oven is never enough.
Her bagel and schmear go-to? Rosemary sea salt with giardiniera cream cheese.
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Head Barista
Dante
What’s a bagel’s best friend? Coffee, of course—and Dante has made sure there’s something for everyone on our extensive drink menu. With over five years of experience as a barista and trainer, Dante brings deep coffee expertise and a passion for crafting each cup with care. From classic favorites to creative seasonal specials, the menu they’ve curated offers the perfect pairing for any bagel.
Dante’s go-to? A plain bagel with honey vanilla cream cheese.
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Weekend Manager
Maeve
While supporting the busy weekends at LRB, Maeve brings a vibrant blend of food service know-how and sales experience to the team. She’s all about people—fostering an open, welcoming space for both staff and customers. Maeve thrives on the creative buzz that surrounds each month’s new bagel, seasonal drink specials, and bialy flavor drops. Her go-to combo? A rosemary pink salt bagel slathered with lemon dill cream cheese—bright, bold, and just a little unexpected.
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