Maricopa is getting closer to the day residents can drive home with a box of bagels, schmear and lox.

Einstein Bros. Bagels is one step closer to opening its doors as South Bridge Marketplace’s next construction phase moves forward. Minneapolis-area design firm Fusion AE recently received approval from the property owner to “prepare, submit and process construction plans, drawings, applications, permits, revisions and related documentation,” according to public records obtained by InMaricopa.

For the most part, the document simply transfers communications between city departments to Fusion AE, which could help speed up the construction process. However, a construction timeline was not announced.

The location is not yet listed on the Einstein Bros. website.

A visit to the site near John Wayne Parkway and Honeycutt Avenue shows the building is already standing, though it’s not yet ready to turn out bakery-fresh bagels. For now, wood framing and plywood sit atop a concrete foundation.

Other documents show a site plan for the restaurant, located at 19019 N. John Wayne Parkway, sharing space with a future Tropical Smoothie Café. The entire phase will be anchored by an Aldi grocery store.