Everywhere you turn you can spot a deli or bagel shop posted up on a corner or in a shopping center. Bagels & Co. has an 11 year run and four locations to choose from – with their newest in Bayside.
Located in The Bay Terrace Shopping Center, which opened about two months ago, Bagel & Co. sits just across the street from the Chabad of Northeast Queens, the world’s largest Jewish educational outreach organization.
“The rabbi brought us here,” said Heim Haimlevi, owner of the shop in Bay Terrace as well as their location on Union Turnpike. “For three years he came [to Union Turnpike] everyday and told me to open up across the street from him. So I went for it.”
“We opened here not just because of the religious school,” said Reut Ashkenazi, an employee of five years. “We don’t look for just Jewish, we look for all.”
Bagel & Co. provides high-quality kosher food to organizations, corporations, families and individuals throughout the boroughs with the finest and freshest ingredients served all day long.
“First and foremost, we’re kosher in a Jewish community,” said Ashkenazi. “We’re just different, that’s what I think and my opinion. Our bagels are bigger, tastier and just different from everyone else.”
Every day bagels are made fresh the “old-fashioned way, like the grandfather days in Europe,” according to Haimlevi. He produces about 380 handmade, large sized bagels with better quality and a different method than most shops.
“There are different levels of bagels. The lowest is steamed,” said Haimlevi. “We boil them in water to up the quality. My product is good, practically the best.”
Bagel & Co. covers a variety of favorites from bagels to bialys with butter or various cream cheeses for breakfast. Sandwiches, soup and yogurt are also offered for breakfast and lunch along with the essential drinks of coffee, tea, espresso and cappuccino.
They’re working on doing events and promotions for schools in the area.
“On Union we provide price cuts and delivery for the school as well as discounts for the Chabad,” said Ashkenazi. “We’re not working with the school [in Bayside] yet, but we’d like to start around here.”
An event they do wish to start up again is weekly Torah readings in the afternoon. “The rabbi wants to start off strong and come in and read the Torah,” said Ashkenazi. “It’ll bring excitement and people can ask questions. Most Jewish people really know about the Torah, so it would be a nice thing to do.”
Bagel & Co. is located on the upper level of The Bay Terrace Shopping Center at 212-91 26th Street. For more information call 718-229-7755. – Laura Ciminera
