Ess-A-Bagel was here since 1976. They were forced to close this past spring, to much weeping and rending of garments.
Why put another bagel shop where there already was a hugely successful and beloved bagel shop? I have no idea. At least Tal uses the term "appetizing" on their sign, a word with an interesting history.
As for Bank of America, there's nothing appetizing about it.
Ess-A-Bagel plans to reopen a new shop just a little further south on First Avenue.
Think it's just the original site that closed. Company still going strong elsewhere. Catering business gangbusters. Doubt they're complaining.
ReplyDeleteExactly - Ess-A-Bagel still exists, just not at this site. Tal bagels is as old and established (if not older) - they've long have a shop at 1st Avenue and 54th that I happily used for decades while living in that neighborhood.
ReplyDeleteWhy complain?
There's a terrific new book out about the changes on St. Mark's Place (and environs), written by someone who grew up there. It's called "St. Mark's Is Dead," and it's reviewed in this weekend's Times. The author, who knows the neighborhood and the city much more intimately than anyone who moved here in adulthood, writes a study, not a lament. As the reviewer points out, "...we all think we lived through the best bit", that includes even those who came as recently as the 90s, and thought that that was NYC's heyday.
Personally, I thought the heyday was when I came here - the late 70s to mid 80s. But there were people then who were mourning the 60s and early 70s. And I'm sure there were those who though that NYC was at its best in the post-war years. Edith Wharton, I'm sure, would say that the city has been deteriorating since 1917.
So where's the sense in decrying one old bagel shop being taken over by another old bagel shop? What matters, in this particular case, is the bagel.
The problem in this case is twofold. First is the sense of unnecessary change, the feeling you can be replaced even though you are doing a great job. What is the point in replacing one good bagel shop for another very similar bagel shop? Such a huge expense for no net gain? Seems a waste of energy. Second, there is this intrusion by the bank branches from a regional bank from another region. Do we really need another bank branch? There must be 10,000 branches in this city, one or more on every block, then you also have automated teller machines in every other store. Enough is Enough already!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI have had the midtown essabagel.. And I can tell you it is not near as good as the çlosed downtown one.
ReplyDeleteI am not responsible for this bagel shop's namesake in any way.
ReplyDeleteJust thought I'd let you people know that.
However, now that I know about it, I'd be curious to try a "Tal's Bagel".