Like bagels? Then you'll love what's going on in Larchmont, Mamaroneck
If you like bagels — and you live in or near Larchmont or Mamaroneck — you'll be happy to know your choices are about to expand. Come the fall, three new bagel shops are slated to open, with two in Mamaroneck and one in Larchmont.
Bagels by Sofia, which has been in Larchmont for the past three years, is opening a second location at 414 Mamaroneck Ave. Up the street, Brooklyn Bagel & Coffee, in Manhattan and Astoria for over 20 years (and selected by the Food Network for "Best Bagels in NYC"), will open its first suburban location in Mamaroneck where Maple and Rose had been (at 690 Mamaroneck Ave.).
Empire Bagels, with locations in Harrison, Cross River, Brewster, Carmel, Fishkill, Cortland Manor, and the Bronx, is going into the The Grange space in Larchmont (158 Larchmont Ave.) in early fall. That's on top of Village Square Bagels, which has been on Boston Post Road in Larchmont for more than 25 years.
Is it too many bagels in too close a proximity?
Local residents are mixed, with the majority saying they're happy to welcome more local businesses (and try more bagels), though some would prefer more of a variety of options such as a Target express, pet store, Gymboree, or a farm to table eatery.
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Others worry that the area can't support them all, with a lot of folks loyal to the fave bagel spot they already have.
"I'd love them all to do well and if they offer something different from the run of the mill, maybe they will," said Lisa Kinsman of Larchmont. "People are heading back to work in bigger numbers to there's less folks around to support the local cafes. Still.... better openings than closings!"
Ben Krasniqi, who owns Bagels by Sofia, said he was first on the avenue when he signed the lease, but it took him 13 months to get him permits. So while he didn't anticipate another place opening up so close to his new location, he's confident his customer service and kettle boiled bagels will win people over.
Pano Voyiatzis, who owns Brooklyn Bagel, believes the proliferation of bagel shops is something consumers will see more and more of as take-out and fast casual eateries have grown in popularity since the pandemic. "It's not just in Westchester but everywhere," he said. "They will become as common as pizzerias."
Plus, every place opening does offer more than bagels (think sandwiches and salads and, of course, loads of creative cream cheeses). At Empire Bagel you'll even find burgers, fries and chicken wings.
Jenny Jaffe, a real estate salesperson who lives in Larchmont, sees the competition as a good thing and is excited about the new additions. "I haven’t yet found my perfect Westchester bagel and all of my city buyers moving here worry they won’t either," she said.
Similarly, fellow Larchmonter Melanie Rothman is on the hunt for who makes the best flagels.
Peter McKee of Mamaroneck believes the newcomers will be a great addition to the village.
"Too many bagel shops is not what we should be concerned about," he said. "What about all the smoke and vape shops? This is what should be discussed and resolved to promote and protect a level of decency on our streets and the store fronts that our children are exposed to."
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Got a food tip?
Know of an opening or a closing? Or something else you'd like covered? If so, send to JRMuchnick@gannett.com.
Jeanne Muchnick covers food and dining. Click here for her most recent articles and follow her latest dining adventures on Instagram @lohud_food or via the lohudfood newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: New restaurants near me: Bagel shops opening in Mamaroneck, Larchmont
