Posted: Sunday, October 19, 2008 8:17 am

A genius of a bagel restaurant has plans to open as many as three locations in Murfreesboro.

Well, Einstein Bros. Bagels actually has nothing to do with Albert Einstein, said Kevin Kruse, vice president of franchise development for Einstein Noah Restaurant Group, but the restaurant chain has targeted the city to bring its fast-casual concept.

Einstein Bros. Bagels is currently looking for franchisees in the Murfreesboro and Nashville area.

“We would like to do this as soon as possible,” Kruse said.

Einstein Noah Restaurant Group operates three restaurant brands: Einstein Bros. Bagels, Manhattan Bagels and Noah’s Bagels. The company began franchising 14-year-old Einstein Bros. Bagels last year.

Kruse said the Murfreesboro market could support as many as three Einstein Bros. locations.

He said the area is ideal for Einstein Bros. because the “economy is still positive” and people are still going to work every day.

Einstein Bros. Bagels bakes more than 20 flavors of bagels each morning. Five varieties of self-serve drip coffees are available each day.

“Bagels are certainly the star of the restaurant in the morning,” Kruse said.

Stores offer a variety of bagel sandwiches, panini sandwiches, wraps and salads for lunch. Specialty coffees also are available.

Hours of operation are typically 6 a.m.-5 p.m. on the weekdays. The restaurant closes at around 3 p.m. or 4 p.m. on the weekend.

Murfreesboro’s one to three locations could bring close to 100 jobs to the market.

For more information, contact Kruse at kkruse@einsteinnoah.com or visit www.einsteinbros.com.

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A Salsarita’s Fresh Cantina location is being planned for Murfreesboro.

The restaurant chain is looking to build out a retail space at 1970 Medical Center Pkwy., Suite R, near Red Robin. It will likely be several months before the restaurant would open.

A Salsarita’s representative didn’t immediately return a phone message.

The chain is similar to Blue Coast Burrito and Moe’s Southwest Grill where a variety of Mexican dishes are made to order in front of the customer.

Salsarita’s offers a choice of burritos, tacos, nachos, quesadillas, enchiladas and salads. All items come with the customers’ choice of fillings and salsa.

For more information, visit www.salsaritas.com.

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F&M Bank’s new location at 802 Memorial Blvd. – the former location of Bank of the South – is set to open at 8:30 a.m. Nov. 10, according to a letter recently sent to customers.

The bank’s current office at 1875 Memorial Blvd. is set to close at 1 p.m. Nov. 7.

Erin Edgemon can be reached at 869-0812 and at eedgemon@murfreesboropost.com.