The story behind The Wild Rise Bagel Co.

Hi, I’m Catie—and The Wild Rise Bagel Co. is the lovechild of a deep belief in slow food, good people, and the kind of nourishment that rises from the inside out.

I started this bakery with a simple, stubborn idea: that beautiful, honest food made by hand still matters. That the process—fermenting slowly, shaping with care, baking with intention—can be an act of resistance and love. Every bagel you’ll find here is naturally leavened with wild sourdough culture. No shortcuts. No commercial yeast. Just time, trust, and tradition.

With a background in environmental studies, I’ve always felt pulled toward what’s natural, rooted, and real. I carry those same values into my kitchen: sustainability, community, and making space for people to feel good about what they’re eating and who they’re supporting.

I live and bake in Central Pennsylvania, where I’m surrounded by forests, farms, and folks who show up for each other. This business is small, but it’s mighty—and it's built on connection. I’m not on social media, by choice. Instead, I believe in eye contact at farmers markets, handwritten notes, and sharing what we’ve made with the people who show up hungry and curious.

The Wild Rise isn’t just about bagels—it’s about rising in ways that are slow, intentional, and wildly our own.

Thanks for being here. I’m so glad you found me.

— Catie