For the past few weeks, passersby have noted signs advertising Vermont Bagel in the storefront next to Bevo Catering at 70 Roosevelt Highway in Colchester. Now, pending state inspections scheduled for this week, the new deli-café could open as early as Thursday, July 14.

General manager Tom Roden says the new shop will offer 21 types of puffy, New York-style bagels. In addition to making standards such as sesame, cinnamon-raisin and everything, Roden will lace bagels with kale and cheddar, or sweeten them with local maple syrup.

The bagels can be smeared with seasonal cream cheeses, including a signature spread blended with bacon and maple syrup; stuffed with eggs and bacon (breakfast sandwiches will be available all day); or layered with Boar's Head deli meats and fresh veggies. Coffee (espresso and drip) will come from Vermont Coffee Company.

The shop will also offer from-scratch bread and hard rolls and will serve sweets such as cookies and muffins. Roden says he and owner Mike LeBlanc plan to add doughnuts — old-fashioned, cakey ones made with buttermilk and yeasted pillows glazed with chocolate or maple crème — once they install the required equipment.

Roden comes to Vermont Bagel via the Bagel Place in South Burlington and Essex Junction's Bagel Market. And LeBlanc's other business, the Baker's Dozen Bakery, wholesales breads, bagels and sweets to several accounts including the University of Vermont and the Maplefields chain of convenience stores.

In Colchester, LeBlanc aims to offer "a good, high-quality sandwich shop," the owner says. "All of our baked goods will be as good as you can get around here."