Given the number of times Mike Ellis dropped terms like "growth" and "market" during our ten-minute conversation, Seattle should expect itself an army of Einsten Bros Bagels in 2012 and beyond.

The carby chain is opening its first store here on January 17 at 2201 Westlake Avenue. Einstein is part of the restaurant group that operates Noah’s New York Bagel, several of which Seattle claims, but this 2,600-square-foot bakery is the only one under the Bros brand. So far, at least.

"The Pacific Northwest is an underutilized market for us," says Ellis, a VP of franchise and development. "We are in growth mode." Expansion specifics have yet to transpire but will become a priority in the next 12-18 months. Future stores could go by either Einstein or Noah’s, he noted.

Someone’s been chatting with the Potbelly people.