Monday, March 23, 2015

The Last Bagel

Yesterday was Ess-A-Bagel's last day of business in their space on First Avenue. They've been there since 1976. Their landlord is putting a Bank of America in the space.



The walls were covered with goodbye wishes.



A member of the #SaveNYC group was there after the doors closed and shot this footage of long-time customer Jack (also since 1976) enjoying the last bagel, a mini everything with egg salad:


See more videos at savenyc.nyc

Customers hope that Ess-A-Bagel will successfully relocate somewhere in the neighborhood, but nothing has yet been set.


my last bagel, not the last bagel



9 comments:

Anonymous said...

the landlord L&M Development, Ron Moelis has no shame. If you look at his portfolio of buildings and retail space it's all chain stores. There website says, "breaking ground every day". http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/de-blasio-affordable-housing-appointees-ties-developers-article-1.1616075

Ms. said...

Me too....may it be so. This is my neighborhood and I'm so disheartened by how many businesses have vanished, and how many glass towers have stolen the sky, the sunlight and air. There's another new one in the works just up the block. New York real estate is the new art market. Units are being bought site unseen by people who never intend to live here. It's a blight, a final blow to community, and a damn shame.

C. Pwakah said...

Very unfortunate... these guys make absolutely the BEST bagels I've ever had. Hopefully they will relocate as they say they will.. Otherwise, I'll have to visit their 3rd ave location!

JAZ said...

Along with Oasis Bagels out in Queens, the 1st Ave. Ess-a-Bagel is about the best bagel in the area. So, needless to say, it has to be fucked with.

Anonymous said...

Hi there. :/ Me remember that was the very first time I eat a toasted pumpernickel bagel with tuna salad at Essa Bagel! What a bagel! Yay. Bye now. /:

Brad said...

When Stuyvesant was still on East 15th street, we would sometimes trek up to Ess-a-bagel for lunch. What a great place a shame it's gone the way of so many.

Anonymous said...

And these L&M dudes are developing Essex Crossing on the SPURA next to the Williamsburg Bridge...now we know their true colors.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the blog. Lived in Gramercy from 2003 - 2011. We like to eat breakfast at home so my usual routine several days a week was going to Ess-A-Bagel and asking for “One of what ever’s hot.” The bagels were so huge, my wife and I would share them.
We moved to Seattle. One of the few things we can’t get here that we enjoyed in NYC is a good hot bagel. Now I miss NYC a lot less.

Pat said...

The covering over the glass that was the windows of Ess-A-Bagel have been taken off part of it revealing a new bagel store and a sign that states Tal Bagels will open there September 25th. The remaining part on the corner is still covered up, maybe that is where they will put the B of A? Maybe just an ATM lobby?