Social media is a blessing and a curse.

For all that it may impact our attention spans, and draw our attention to things that we would rather not see, it has created a marvellous opportunity for so many people to take their lives in new and exciting directions.

Now, there may be ‘influencers’ with millions of pounds they can point to as evidence of their success, but one of the more heartwarming ones that I have seen is that of Khalifa Abdi, a young man who set up a bagel shop with no experience.

Khalifa Abdi from First Street Bagels - whose honest journey to opening was a hit on social media. | Manchester World

placeholder image — Khalifa Abdi from First Street Bagels - whose honest journey to opening was a hit on social media. | Manchester World

I first came across First Street Bagels on Instagram whilst looking for lunch spots in Manchester and, due to my time in the USA (and resulting affinity for ring-shaped bread products), I immediately became interested in Khalifa’s story.

From buying the site, to designing the interior, to watching the menu come together, I was there for every step, and finally managed to meet the team behind the strategy (and taste a pretty great bagel).

Watch the video in this article to hear from Khalifa himself, and if you’re interested in supporting local businesses, get yourself down to the aptly-named Cakebread Street and try out a bagel.