By Nehitha Jayakumar
Bagel Jay’s closed its doors earlier this month after over fourty seven years of service in the Western New York area. Bagel Jay’s CEO Jay Gershberg said in a statement, “After 47 years of bringing you New York’s best bagels, it’s time to hang up the apron and retire. While more details will come out over the next month, I want to thank everyone who embraced Bagel Bros. and Bagel Jays.”
In July of 1976 Jay and his brother came from the Bronx to open Buffalo’s first fresh bagel shop. Bagel Jay’s was officially opened in 2001. Bagel Jay’s has served up everything from classic sausage, egg, and cheese bagels to specialties such as the “Green” St. Patricks Day bagels. Bagel Jay’s has not just been any other bakery to Buffalonians; it has become a part of their culture. Generations of people in this area grew up with Bagel Jay’s and it has left a very big impact on many lives. It was a place where people met up to work, it was where people stopped by before school to grab breakfast, and, most importantly of all, it was a place where special friendships and relationships were created.
Bagel Jay’s is passing the baton onto Bruegger’s Bagels, a nationwide bagel chain. However, the new bagel shop will serve the ”JayNORMOUS” sandwich in honor of Jay. Gershberg states he thinks “Western New York will be in good hands” with the new bagel shop taking his place. Now at seventy one years old, Gershberg says that he would love to relax and enjoy his retirement with his grandchildren. While Bagel Jay’s will be missed among the people of western New York there is no questioning the immense impact this shop has had on the lives of generations of people in Buffalo.
