By Gus Saltonstall
The poster for the “New Absolute Bagel” that has hung on the old Absolute Bagels Upper West Side storefront for the last four months is gone as of Thursday morning.
Tipster Elizabeth Lang, who alerted West Side Rag to the disappearance of the poster, aptly penned her email subject as “Uh oh.”
While the sign is gone — the street has added a new element — scaffolding equipment that stretches from the corner of West 107th Street and Broadway through the old Absolute Bagels storefront at 2788 Broadway.
The removal of the sign advertising the new bagel venture leaves the question of whether the operation still plans to open.
Here’s what we were able to find out.
Rafe Evans, the broker of the property, who orchestrated the lease with the new owners of the store in April, told the Rag that the “bagel group” is still planning to open the business at the location. “Oh yeah, they are in,” Evans said, while explaining that the group had already made significant payments toward the rent and other costs. “They are in deep.”
Evans did not know why the sign had been removed, though.
In terms of a specific opening date or timeline for the “New Absolute Bagel? “None, but not as soon as they hoped,” he said.
The Rag also reached out to Elad Drour, the president of PD Properties, who was involved in the deal for the new bagel venture going into the old Absolute Bagels storefront. Drour was unsure why the sign had come down, but said he would try to get to us with more information. We will update this story if and when we hear back.
What About the New Scaffolding?
While it remains unconfirmed, the removal of the poster for the “New Absolute Bagel” could be connected to the scaffolding equipment going up.
In the past 10-or-so days, there have been multiple permits filed with the city for construction work at both 2788 Broadway, the former Absolute Bagels storefront, and at 2780 Broadway, next door, the old Garden of Eden neighborhood location, which is slated to open as the Japanese grocer Hashi Market.
Among those permits was one filed on July 2 for the “installation of a temporary supported scaffold” for alteration work at 2780 Broadway, according to the Department of Building’s portal page. The permit does not provide information on the timeline of the work.
Many times, a sidewalk shed erected for one address will end up also covering adjacent storefronts.
In terms of permits filed for the former Absolute Bagels storefront at 2788 Broadway, there are positive signs that a new bagel shop will be opening.
On July 24, a permit was filed with the city for interior and mechanical work on an “existing bagel store.” The same day, another permit was filed for an “alteration on existing bagel store to install kitchen equipments and plumbing fixtures,” the DOB portal website shows.
The two permits were the first construction permits filed at the address since 2023, according to the DOB.
The Rag will update this story when we learn more.
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The UWS has much bigger problems.
Just walk the streets at any hour and see if you feel safe.
Afterall, it’s only a bagel.
Couldn’t agree more!! Why all the hype?!!
Where in Missouri do you live? Sounds scary, but here in the city, life is great.
“See you in St. Louie.”
What the heck are you talking about? Maybe you should move.
Why should he move? He`s just stating the obvious.
Maybe you both should work to resolve known safety issues on the UWS rather than using the common unfortunate suggestion “just move!”
Brilliant, just brilliant.
See you at the MENSA meeting.
UWS & even UUWS are now the most stable and happening neighborhoods in NYC! This is not the town of years long gone. And, Broadway has the coolest vibe! Walk & enjoy with the swag of a native New Yorker!
What part of b’way has the coolest vibe?
Until you get randomly assaulted or hit by an e-biker.
I walk all over the UWS, usually with my young kids, and feel perfectly safe.
Just be careful of the e-bikers on the sidewalks.
So sorry you are unhappy here. Clearly, you’re in the minority.
A bold assumption on your part.
Pass me a bagel.
The biggest safety issue on the UWS is the one identified in this article: the plague of scaffolding. It kills workers, collapses and hurts pedestrians, and kills small businesses. It also costs homeowners millions because we pay for all of it in higher rents and increased maintenance. Repeal and replace Local Law 11 with something that makes sense!
Just tried Tal Bagels on Broadway between 90-91st Street. Just as reliably delicious as Absolute!
Have to agree with Jay. Tal is not nearly as good as Absolute or Lennys (and why hasn’t anything opened up in the Lenny’s spot BTW–it has been, what, 2 years at least?). IMO Tal is very average in every way and it is more expensive than Bagel Talk or Bagels and Co. to boot.
Thank you.
And don’t f forget about Broadway Bagels at 101 and Broadway.
Just had one.
Yummy.
Fresh every morning.
Nowhere near as good as Absolute or Lenny’s.
Nor is “H & H”. If you want something close to Lenny’s or Absolute, find a Liberty Bagels, but they don’t have a bakery on the UWS; there’s one on West 35th at 8th.
The scaffolding is going to kill these businesses. Hopefully it won’t be up to long.
If the bagels are as good as Absolute’s, the construction shed won’t undermine business — even if the shed is used for a place to spark up.
The Mystery of the Missing Sign isn’t much of a mystery. It was removed and folded neatly nearby a couple days ago. I think it was just in the way.
Instead of Gale Brewer et al continually tilting at windmills (e.g. her outrage when vendors were removed from the Brooklyn Bridge) how about if she solves a problem every New Yorker hates: GET RID OF THE SCAFFOLDING NOW. The recently passed legislation in this regard is a joke.
I like the scaffolding; it protects me from the hot sun and rain. But then, I don’t have a car that I park free on city streets.
Nothing is free in NYC, especially car ownership.
We pay a gas tax, a registration fee, an emissions fee, and a license plate fee among other things.
Some people need car for their disabled friends or family members.
Enjoy the scaffolding., and the darkness that brings.
Thank you and have a Blessed day.
These scaffoldings are sn eyesore. Do the work and take em DOWN!