Brittany Erwin of B’s Bagels & Butters: From Bagel Desert to Bagel Destination
If you’ve ever spent time in Washington and craved a good bagel, you might have faced a surprising challenge. Brittany Erwin, owner of B’s Bagels and Butters, experienced this bagel desert first-hand upon moving to Gig Harbor in 2016. With only one shop in a 50-mile radius (which closed before the pandemic), Brittany spotted an opportunity.
Jeremy & Marina Kratzer of Dutchman’s: Maine’s Bagel Revolution
Dutchman’s Wood Fired Bagels has become a defining force in Brunswick’s food scene, and at the center of it are Jeremy Kratzer and Marina Kratzer, the husband-and-wife team rethinking what a great bagel can be. They joined Bagel Ambassador Sam Silverman on BagelFest’s Bagel Buzz Instagram Live series to talk about their path from Northeast baking traditions to building Dutchman’s, the technical choices behind their wood-fired process, and how a small shop has helped spark a broader artisanal bagel movement well beyond Brunswick. Their story blends New York and Montreal traditions, a slice of New Jersey nostalgia, and a hefty dose of Maine ingenuity.
How to Scale Your Bagel Business: Lessons from the Trenches
In the ever-evolving world of bagels, scaling up isn’t just about making more dough. It’s about building resilient teams, adopting the right systems, and keeping the heart in what you do. At BagelFest, a panel of successful bagel shop owners and operators shared their hard-earned lessons on growth, leadership, and navigating the challenges of expanding their businesses.
Hannah Tillett & Mike Banaszak of Tilly Bagel: Shaping the Chicago Bagel Revolution
The question on the table: what is a Chicago style bagel? Hannah Tillett and Mike Banaszak, owners of Tilly Bagel, joined Bagel Ambassador Sam Silverman on BagelFest’s Bagel Buzz Instagram Live series to discuss their pandemic project that has grown into two brick-and-mortar shops in Chicago’s South Loop and West Loop neighborhoods.
The Key to the Perfect Bagel: Insights from the Experts
Everyone’s chasing the secret to the perfect bagel, but what does it truly take? At a 2025 BagelFest panel, three industry leaders (Chrissy Traore, Jeff Yankellow, and Joseph Savelli) dug into bagel history, ingredients, and craft, sharing wisdom for bakers at every level.
From Toasted to Thriving: Real Talk from Bagel Shop Owners on Building and Growing a Better Business
Bagel shops have never been more popular, but for the owners behind the counter, thriving takes more than delicious dough—it’s about grit, adaptability, and community. At Bagel Fest, moderator Karen Bornarth, Executive Director of the Bread Bakers Guild of America, brought together a powerhouse panel: Josh Pollack (Bridge & Tunnel Restaurant Group, Rosenberg’s Bagels – Denver), Bridget Odachowski (Holy City Bagels – Charleston), and Ben Suh (Between the Bagel – New York City). Together, they peeled back the curtain on what it really takes to run (and grow) a successful shop today.
A Warm Bagel Welcome: Lessons on Hospitality from the Experts
There’s something magical about a fresh, perfectly baked bagel—not just in the flavors and textures, but in the feeling it creates. At this year’s Bagel Fest, three food industry veterans—Andrea Strong, Chris Pugliese, and Brooks Tanner—sat down for an open, heartfelt conversation about what really makes a great bagel shop. Spoiler: It’s as much about hospitality and community as it is about dough and cream cheese.
Vince and Elizabeth Morena of St-Viateur Bagel: Rolling Through the Generations
Bagels and Montreal have a storied relationship, it’s a city where the aroma of baking bread is woven into the cultural fabric. But few places are as synonymous with the Montreal bagel as St-Viateur Bagel. Second- and third-generation stewards of St-Viateur Bagel, Vince and Elizabeth Morena, joined BagelFest’s Bagel Buzz Instagram live series to discuss the enduring traditions, challenges, and community that keep their ovens—and legacy—burning.
Talia & Kelly Bongolan-Schwartz of Tali’s Bagels & Schmear: From Pandemic Pop-Ups to NY’s Biggest Bagel Bash
When you think of iconic New York bagels, you probably imagine bustling city sidewalks and steamy shops in Manhattan or Brooklyn, not the sun-drenched farmers markets of Oahu. Yet Talia Bongolan-Schwartz, a Long Island native, and Kelly Bongolan-Schwartz, her Hawaiian-local partner, have managed to transport the spirit—and chew—of an East Coast staple to the islands.
Breanne Kostyk & Jeff Hinson of Flour Moon Bagels: Baking New Orleans into Every Bite
When the pandemic hit in May 2020, New Orleans pastry chef Breanne Kostyk faced uncertainty—but also found opportunity. With hotel kitchens shuttered and a dream quietly simmering, Breanne began selling freshly baked bagels to friends and family via Instagram. Starting with only 18 bagels at a time, she transformed the porch pickups and word-of-mouth buzz into a regular presence at local farmers markets.
Emily Williams & Laurence Faber of Potchke Bagel: Crafting a Southern Jewish Food Revival in Knoxville
Thanks to Laurence Faber and Emily Williams, the owners of Potchke Deli and the newly launched Potchke Bagel, the Southern city of Knoxville, Tennessee is quickly earning a spot on the map for lovers of Jewish cuisine.
Elana Carlson of Fantzye Bagels: Elevating the Sourdough Bagel Scene in Kingston
From humble beginnings in borrowed kitchens to celebrated accolades at BagelFest, Fantzye Bagels is redefining what it means to be a neighborhood bagel shop with a distinctly personal and local twist. In just a year, owner Elana Carlson had gone from baking in Martha’s Vineyard borrowed kitchens to opening the brick-and-mortar Fantzye Bagels in Kingston, NY.
Yero Rudzinskas of Baltik’s Bagel: Richmond’s Breakout Hit
Just a year since opening its doors, Baltik’s Bagel in Richmond, Virginia has transformed from an unknown upstart to a local favorite, boasting lines out the door and energizing a new wave of bagel lovers in the region. But behind the accolades—including being named "Best New Restaurant in Richmond"—is a story about grit, family, and saying no to the status quo.
Oren Salomon of Starship Bagel: Pushing the Boundaries of Bagel Culture
Earning BagelFest’s titles of "Schmear of the Year" and "Best Bagel" once is a feat, but Starship Bagel has done it multiple times. Widely recognized for his Dallas-based shop's innovative spirit and championship-quality bakes, owner Oren Salomon joined Bagel Ambassador Sam Silverman on BagelFest’s Bagel Buzz Instagram live series to talk about Starship Bagel’s meteoric rise.
Greg & Bridget Odachowski of Holey City Bagels: Hand-Rolling Tradition and Community
Bagels in Charleston, South Carolina? For many, that might sound as unlikely as a blizzard on King Street. But thanks to Greg and Bridget Odachowski, the duo behind Holey City Bagels, the Lowcountry has become home to hand-rolled, boiled bagels with a Jersey pedigree and a distinctly Southern twist.