I don't know anything about this specific location, but I know more than I'd like about the bagel business. To make a real bagel is difficult, and costly. The dough goes through mulitple processes, including boiling, before going in the oven. It's a dying business because the real thing costs so much more than the frozen alternative. Most coffee shop bagels are pulled out of the freezer, supplied by companies like Rich Products. People become accustomed to cheap, frozen bagels. When they have the real thing, their apt to think somethings wrong with it. If you find a place with scratch bagels, enjoy them while you can.

We need a foot patrol officer (or two) on Elmwood.

http://www.brueggers.com/index.html

Brueggers would be a good fit for that location. Excellent bagels. They do great in Rochester.

What about a Panera on Elmwood? Oh my!

I don't mean to sound cynical but what good is this planning award if we can't even keep local business on the strip? Maybe EVA should be more concerned with keeping the small business that it has instead of receiving an award that doesn't mean a thing to the majority of people in Buffalo. I guarantee that if you asked why companies or business moved into eastern market or elmwood or pike's place, they wouldn't say its because APA named them one of the best 10 neighborhoods. Its because they make money, not because of a pointless award. Let's see the EVA produce before we get so giddy.

The rent does seem rather steep. I heard that the former Solid Grounds space is $2500/month. We're ready to lease our smaller space at 291 Bryant for $600/month, so I guess prices run the gamut.

Personally I like Lexington Co-op's bagels.

I would love to see a head shop or a tatto parlor. The village needs a little color.

Thank god this place is closing so something better can go in it's place. Everything in here was bad- the food, staff and obviously the management. On top of all that the place was always dirty. No big surprise it's closing.

as kym said...smoke and mirrors

This was the world's worst bagel shop in basically the best location in the city. I'm sure someone else will snap up the spot and put something better there. I bet the businesses that are looking to relocate to Elmwood are already lining up.

No that is not true Sally says Elmwood is going down the drain

Marcos Italian deli needs to be on the strip..... or a smoothie/juice bar....nah that wouldn't work in Buffalo either

I stopped going to this bagel/sub shop about a year ago because it was always dirty. Elmwood needs a casual sandwich shop though. There's enough high-end stuff. A sandwich shop that stayed open after 6pm would be nice too.

I couldn't agree more with the Brueggers fans - I'm one, as well. Quality product, decent service, and urban commitment (they're one of the faithful holdouts remaining in our dying downtown mall, God bless them). And as UnionAMG points out, when they're in a market they usually have multiple locations, so with a success on Elmwood more would likely follow. It would definitely be worthwhile for, say, EVA to contact them and gauge their interest - and if it happens, well, how about a special for BRO readers--?

Actually, I'm in walking distance from a Bruegger's at the moment, and all this has made me so hungry they may get a visit from me shortly...

Although it would be better to see a local shop open up there... I do love Bruegger's Bagels. I've lived in Schenectady, Boston, and Rochester and there was always a Bruegger's in close proximity to my places. I always wondered why there wasn't one around here. They are probably have the highest quality bagels of any chain place.

Using industry standards, you'd need about 400 customers per day to have a break even/slightly profitable business at this location. While the 'posters' here get excited about the recent award (for EV), people should keep in mind that making any small business work, Elmwood or elsewhere, is a bit of magic. With higher rents (which you would assume given 'top ten status'), some store fronts will not support the business that's there now... even if it appears to be profitable. Management guru Peter Drucker said, 'it's more important to do the right thing, than to do things right." You might make a great bagle, but with the wrong deal, you're sunk.

How about a damn micro - GAP!?

You know, a real bagel shop is hard to come by anywhere around here. Manhattan or Bagel Jay don't compare to the kind you see in other cities. Maybe now's the opportunity to open up a real bagel store. They can sell other stuff too of course. This shop that was there was really horrid, I remember one time I went there there was a clueless juvenile delinquent behind the counter and the food sucked. The fact it even lasted as long as it did suggests a properly run store could thrive there. I mean where else gets better foot traffic? You see all those other sit down places are pretty full there, I bet someone could come up with a good restaurant or bagel store or coffee shop to put there.

There are three important factors (among many) in making a business succeed. 1- Clean 2- Friendly, knowledgable and well trained staff 3- Superior product I'm sure for every negative comment there are just as many positive ones. Unfortunatly - a 50/50 ratio does not do much in supporting the bottom line. Sad to see it go but from what it seems another business may be better off. Businesses fail for many reasons... but in this case it seems like the most obvious ones are to blame.

Any reason WHY they closed. Are the owners moving the shop, moving out of town, retiring, bored of bagels? It also seemed like a big place for a bagel shop.

Our gal Dark Cloud Sally...she sure is consistent!

We could use another Au Bon Pan in the area...