Williamsburg's Northside Loses A Bagel Store, Gains A Starbucks?

The Bagel Store's new home on Bedford Avenue and South Fourth Street (John Del Signore/Gothamist)

The wildly popular Bagel Store (some say it makes the best bagels in Brooklyn) on Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg is finally moving from its longtime home. For the past decade it's done brisk business at the intersection of North 3rd Street, but owner Scott Rossillo told us his landlord, Yehuda Backer, wants to double his rent, and he can't afford it. Next month he's relocating to a smaller spot at the corner of South 4th Street and Bedford. So what's happening with the Bagel Store's old Bedford Ave location?

Rossillo's sister, Michelle, tells us that Starbucks is moving into their former home, and another Bagel Store employee at their new location says the same thing. Of course, we've seen this movie before—there have been repeated false rumors of Starbucks' opening in Williamsburg over the years. In 2001, Reverend Billy held a protest outside a rumored Starbucks location at the corner of North 5th and Bedford—during the rally, the new tenants suddenly appeared to explain they were opening "Fabiane's Pastry and Cafe, an Independent Pastry Experience," not Starbucks.

And yet the rumors persist. Today Rossillo's landlord, Yehuda Backer, tells us, "Not true at all. People kept on saying its Starbucks. We've never even talked to Starbucks. [Rossillo and I] had a very good conversation; we parted as friends, but the neighborhood has changed. Let me tell you something: It's not coming to my building 1000%. I haven't talked to Starbucks, and everyone says because I'm successful, I want to put in a better coffee shop, but it's not true." Baker would not say who the new tenant would be. We hear it's gonna be Starbucks!

Starbucks' spokespersons have not responded to repeated requests for comment. Last year the company gave us a boilerplate statement about how Starbucks "is always looking for great locations to better meet the needs of their customers and reach others who may not have the opportunity to visit Starbucks stores. At this time, the location referenced cannot be confirmed for a Starbucks store."

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By John Del Signore in Food on November 23, 2011 1:53 PM

Comments [rss]

MsMichelle

Why do you keep publishing the same, stupid Starbucks rumor? The bagel store is moving. Big whoop.

Eggcream

Brooklyn? What ever happens there?

luke_1

Pretty much all non-corporate culture of our generation that is attributed to NYC these days.

DP

If that's the case, I'll take corporate culture.

Spyro Poulos

And it isn't just yuppies that are the issues - it's transplants. I am a native Brooklynite disgusted as I listen to the gaggle of 20 and 30 somethings who haven't been here all of 10 years max bitching about all the new transplants from whatever bumf*&k town ya'll are coming from. Gentrification happened 15 years ago and yet it's the gentrifiers doing most of the complaining. You all ever been to a single community board meeting? Do you know who your council man is? Your local rep? Who your Community Affairs Officer is at our Pct? Do you even know what Pct. is ours? Do you know what zone we are in? No? Then STFU!

ixvnyc

Gentrification happened 15 years ago, you say? Let's drop the big words (especially while claiming street cred over the Ivy League education), and simply talk coffee:

Oslo > Bodega coffee
Oslo > Starbucks

Simply based on quality of coffee.
Therefore, you cannot say that when Starbucks displaces Oslo, it's the same thing as when Oslo displaced some crummy local bodega. It's just not true.

Trustafarian

oslo sucks my butthole

gimmie! > oslo

luke_1

At least 15 years ago, dude. Didn't you just prove his point? Oslo is gentrification. No one gives a shit about gourmet coffee, and I say that as someone who roasts their own espresso beans.

ixvnyc

So, according to you, no one gives a shit about the quality of coffee, but everyone gives a shit about the definition of gentrification? Dude, please.

magnifico81

Get offa my stoop yous! You immigrants too!

Also the only transplants who complain about transplants are transplants from Long Island.

And how many people honestly know who their Community Affairs Officer is?

Spyro Poulos

Um - am I bugging but is that NOT a picture of the bagel store on N. 3rd? It's this store isn't it? http://www.vegguide.org/entry-...

Jared D.

was gonna say the same thing.

ixvnyc

It's the picture of the new location on S 4th.

TheOkayestGeneration

Star...bucks, is it? Fascinating, tell me more.

Barry Bliss

I lived about 6 locks away from this location 8 years ago.
I cannot afford to live out there now.

Are enough people willing to go elsewhere if Starbuck's opens there, to make them have to leave?

GDM

Bagelsmith >>>>> The Bagel Store

Austin Formica

FALSE!

ImperialStout

No.... it's so true. And they have a really cute girl working the counter some mornings.

Trustafarian

bedford avenue's bohemian indie days are long gone. bring on the chain stores. i can't remember the last time i set foot in any establisment on bedford ave north of metropolitan. it's been lost to the newcomer yuppies and reverse bridge and tunnel weekend crowed anyways.