After a decade of boiling and baking, Whidbey’s resident bagel guy is ready to pass the title on to someone new.

John Auburn, owner of the Whidbey Island Bagel Factory, is selling all three of his restaurants to his employees. His successor for the South Whidbey location couldn’t have a more perfect name – Clinton Hatton, who has spent the past two years as the mixer in the Ken’s Korner shop.

“The guy is just a jack of all trades,” Auburn said.

Hatton will take over as the new proprietor in Clinton starting Sept. 1.

The Whidbey Island Bagel Factory has seen a lot of growth in the past few years, opening new locations in Oak Harbor and Mount Vernon. Auburn has plans to sell the Oak Harbor shop to the manager, Amanda Post, next year. The Mount Vernon manager, Becky Lacey, is taking over

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