Gate-side bagels before Sun Country in Terminal 2
Great American Bagel sits in Terminal 2 at STL, the smaller terminal used by airlines like Southwest and Sun Country, so it’s one of the few real food stops once you’re through security. It’s a straight-ahead bagel and sandwich counter: think egg-and-cheese on a toasted bagel at 6:30 a.m. instead of grabbing chips from a newsstand. Expect basic airport pricing, roughly $6–$10 for sandwiches and breakfast builds.
Breakfast runs all day, which matters on those odd-timed STL departures like the 11:45 a.m. Southwest flights that still feel like breakfast. Standard orders are bacon, egg, and cheese on a plain or everything bagel, or a sausage version if you want more protein before a three-hour hop. They usually keep a few bagels already sliced and ready, so even with a short 40-minute connection in Terminal 2 you can order and go.
Beyond breakfast, they assemble deli-style sandwiches on bagels or bread, which helps if you’ve got a midday flight, say the 2:15 p.m. bank of departures. Turkey, ham, and basic veggie setups are typical; expect pre-sliced meats and grab-and-go sides like chips and bottled drinks in the $3–$5 range. This is not a sit-down lunch, more a quick counter stop where you can be back at your Gate E spot in 10 minutes.
Seating around the storefront is limited in Terminal 2, so plan to carry everything back to your exact gate number, especially if you’re at the far end near the later Southwest flights. Lines spike in the 5:30–7:30 a.m. window when multiple departures stack, so build in an extra 10 minutes then. One practical move: order a second bagel to go and use it as your in-flight meal; it beats relying on the snack basket at 34,000 feet.