THB Bagelry & Deli of Locust Point in Baltimore: Hand-Rolled Bagels and Smoked Fish in South Baltimore

THB Bagelry & Deli is a bagel shop and Jewish deli in Locust Point that makes bagels in-house by boiling and baking, offers smoked fish, cured meats, and traditional deli sandwiches, and draws a mix of neighborhood regulars and people willing to drive specifically for the bagels.

What THB Bagelry & Deli actually is

Located on Covington Street in Locust Point, THB operates as a made-to-order bagel and deli counter. The bagels are hand-rolled and boiled before baking, a process that distinguishes them from frozen or par-baked alternatives. The shop also stocks smoked salmon, whitefish, and sturgeon; cured pastrami and corned beef; and prepared sandwiches. The space functions as a neighborhood spot during weekday mornings but also serves customers from across Baltimore and the region who prioritize authentic bagel construction over convenience.

Menu, bagel varieties, and pricing

THB offers plain, everything, sesame, poppy seed, and pumpernickel bagels. Pricing runs approximately $1.50 to $1.75 per bagel, with cream cheese add-ons around $0.50 to $1.00 depending on type (plain, scallion, lox spread). A smoked salmon bagel sandwich with cream cheese and capers typically costs $8.00 to $10.00. The deli counter sells pastrami and corned beef by the pound, with sandwich portions running $10.00 to $13.00. Verify current pricing before visiting, as deli costs fluctuate with ingredient sourcing.

The boiling step matters operationally: it creates the characteristic chewy crust and dense crumb. Bagels that skip boiling tend toward bread rather than bagel texture. This method is also slower than par-baking, which affects throughput and availability during peak hours.

How THB compares to other Baltimore bagel options

Baltimore has limited authentic bagel producers. Lox Stock & Bagel, in Canton, also hand-rolls and boils bagels; it offers a slightly larger sandwich menu and more seating, but prices are similar. Absolute Bagels in Fells Point focuses on bagel-forward ordering with less deli infrastructure. THB's advantage is the combination of traditional bagel process and full smoked-fish and cured-meat counter, which suits someone making a single stop for both a bagel and lox, rather than assembling components elsewhere. For pure bagel quantity and variety, THB's output is smaller than a New York-scale operation but larger than a part-time weekend bagel vendor.

Choose THB if you want hand-boiled bagels with traditional Jewish deli sides. Choose Lox Stock if you want more seating and a larger sandwich menu. Choose Absolute Bagels if you live in Fells Point and prioritize convenience.

Who THB suits and who it does not

This place suits people who understand the boiling-and-baking process and accept that the result is different from supermarket bagels. It suits breakfast and lunch eaters who want a single stop for a bagel, smoked fish, and perhaps a cured-meat side. It suits Locust Point residents and people willing to drive for an ingredient-focused outcome.

It does not suit someone looking for a large seating area, table service, or a cafe menu beyond deli offerings. It does not suit someone who prefers boneless bagel thins or pre-made grab-and-go packs. It does not suit speed-focused ordering during the 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. window on weekdays, when the counter can back up.

What a first visit involves

Enter, review the bagel selection on display or ask what is fresh. Order a bagel and specify cream cheese and any protein (smoked salmon, whitefish). The counter staff will slice, spread, and layer. If you want deli meat, ask about pound pricing and whether they can prepare a sandwich. Payment is at the register. The transaction is quick. If bagels are not fully stocked, you may be asked to wait five to ten minutes for a fresh batch or accept the current selection.

Hours and logistics

THB typically opens at 6:00 or 6:30 a.m. and closes in the early afternoon, usually around 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. Hours vary seasonally and by day; confirm before making a trip. The Covington Street location has street parking and is accessible by car from I-95 via the Inner Harbor exit. Public transit connections are limited; the nearest MTA bus stop is within walking distance but service is not frequent.

THB Bagelry & Deli fills a specific gap in Baltimore's breakfast and deli landscape: it executes a single process (boiling and baking) with consistency and sources smoked fish and cured meat at a level most neighborhood bagel shops do not attempt.