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    WSR T-Shirt Contest: Who Can Come Up With the Best New Name for Absolute Bagels

    March 6, 2026 | 10:49 AM
    in ABSURDITY
    353
    WSR Shirt

    By West Side Rag

    It has been too long since West Side Rag ran a contest.

    While in the past, we’ve done contests centered on the comments, poetry, and photos, this time around we want to hear from you about something else:

    What would be a good new name for Absolute Bagels?

    Earlier this week, WSR reported that the New Absolute Bagels had changed its name to 2788 Bagels, after the owner of the original Absolute Bagels threatened legal action. The new bagel shop kept it simple in finding an alternative name, using its 2788 Broadway address as inspiration.

    The New Absolute Bagels is now 2788 Bagels. Photo by Gus Saltonstall

    In the comments of that story, multiple people expressed their disappointment with the new name. Some offered their own ideas for what to call the store now.

    And that’s what we’re asking readers to do: brainstorm your ideas for renaming Absolute Bagels and put your best answer in the comments below. The contest is not authorized by the store, and there’s no guarantee any suggestions from Rag readers would end up on the shop’s banner. But we will guarantee WSR prizes — West Side Rag shirts and other swag — for two winners, based on the number of likes a suggestion gets, plus our own deliberation as an editorial staff.

    Please use a real email address when you submit your entry in the comment section.

    Good luck!

    Subscribe to West Side Rag’s FREE email newsletter here. And you can Support the Rag here.

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    Leave a comment

    Please limit comments to 150 words and keep them civil and relevant to the article at hand. Comments are closed after six days. Our primary goal is to create a safe and respectful space where a broad spectrum of voices can be heard. We welcome diverse viewpoints and encourage readers to engage critically with one another’s ideas, but never at the expense of civility. Disagreement is expected—even encouraged—but it must be expressed with care and consideration. Comments that take cheap shots, escalate conflict, or veer into ideological warfare detract from the constructive spirit we aim to cultivate. A detailed statement on comments and WSR policy can be read here.

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    353 Comments
    Gomer's Pile
    Gomer's Pile
    7 months ago

    Moland Spring

    6
    Reply
    Nicole
    Nicole
    7 months ago

    Absolutely Not Absolute Bagels

    39
    Reply
    ecm
    ecm
    6 months ago
    Reply to  Nicole

    Here’s my new, improved list of names submitted here multiple times (as of ~10:00 AM Monday), to save — or cause — contributors a little effort:

    Absolutely Bagels
    Absolutely Best Bagels
    Absolutely Not Absolute Bagels
    Absolution Bagels
    Artisan Bagels
    Bagel Schmagel
    Bagelicious
    Bagels Schmagels
    Best Bagels
    Bingo Bagels
    Bloomingdale Bagels
    Broadway Bagels
    Definite Bagels
    Everything Bagels
    Not Absolute Bagels
    Obsolete Bagels
    Penultimate Bagels
    Phoenix Bagels
    Positively Bagels
    Ray’s Original Bagels
    Relative Bagels
    Resolute Bagels
    Strauss Park Bagels
    Thai Bagels
    The Best Bagels
    Torus Bagels
    Ultimate Bagels
    Upper Best Side Bagels
    Utter Bagels
    UWS Bagels

    1
    Reply
    ecm
    ecm
    6 months ago
    Reply to  Nicole

    For purposes of general edification, here’s a convenient list of names submitted multiple times (as of ~2:30 PM Saturday):

    Absolutely Bagels
    Absolutely Best Bagels
    Absolutely Not Absolute Bagels
    Absolution Bagels
    Best Bagels
    Everything Bagels
    Phoenix Bagels
    Positively Bagels
    Relative Bagels
    Strauss Park Bagels
    Torus Bagels (attn. Michael wong)
    Ultimate Bagels
    Utter Bagels
    UWS Bagels

    0
    Reply
    neighbor
    neighbor
    6 months ago
    Reply to  ecm

    I think there was also Absolute Value Bagels, and no doubt others that I can’t remember – from the previous discussion of this topic in the comments on the earlier article.

    1
    Reply
    Annie
    Annie
    6 months ago
    Reply to  Nicole

    I Can’t Believe It’s not Absolute Bagels

    11
    Reply
    Louis
    Louis
    7 months ago

    RIP Absolute Bagels Memorial Bagel Store

    11
    Reply
    Jacob
    Jacob
    7 months ago

    Relative Bagels

    64
    Reply
    Handet
    Handet
    7 months ago
    Reply to  Jacob

    You beat me to it!

    1
    Reply
    Mark
    Mark
    7 months ago

    Broadway Bagels
    Titanic Bagels
    Bloomingdale Bagels

    6
    Reply
    Tory
    Tory
    6 months ago
    Reply to  Mark

    Broadway Bagels is taken (101st & Broadway)
    Bloomingdale Bagels is good!

    1
    Reply
    Lisa
    Lisa
    6 months ago
    Reply to  Mark

    Love Bloomingdale Bagels 🙂

    11
    Reply
    SaltyDog
    SaltyDog
    7 months ago

    Resolute Bagels. This bagel shop absolutely will not quit.

    45
    Reply
    Chris
    Chris
    6 months ago
    Reply to  SaltyDog

    You beat me to it!

    1
    Reply
    Caroline S
    Caroline S
    7 months ago

    Absolut Bagel of course https://imgur.com/a/fzi4aE5

    7
    Reply
    Linda
    Linda
    6 months ago
    Reply to  Caroline S

    And a new lawsuit.

    2
    Reply
    Ben
    Ben
    7 months ago

    “Bagels? Absolutely!”
    “Bagel Absolutism”
    “A Bagel Shop Offering Lox on UWS, Try Everything” (ABSOLUTE)”

    5
    Reply
    DJB
    DJB
    7 months ago

    I also vote for Relative Bagels, but some others:
    Shmabsolute Bagels
    One With Everything

    8
    Reply
    Lizzy K
    Lizzy K
    7 months ago

    Kettle One Bagels

    4
    Reply
    Evan
    Evan
    7 months ago

    Ultimate Bagels

    5
    Reply
    DJB
    DJB
    7 months ago

    Schmear Campaign / The Schmear Necessities
    Paradise Lox / Total Lox
    Caper Diem
    Everything Everywhere All At Once

    11
    Reply
    Lee
    Lee
    7 months ago

    Hole Foods

    43
    Reply
    Lauren
    Lauren
    6 months ago
    Reply to  Lee

    this would lead to so many useless confusing convos, though it is funny!

    2
    Reply
    Boris
    Boris
    6 months ago
    Reply to  Lee

    Hole Bagels?

    2
    Reply
    nycityny
    nycityny
    7 months ago

    Bagel of All Bagels

    0
    Reply
    Daisy
    Daisy
    7 months ago

    Total Bagels

    5
    Reply
    Chris
    Chris
    7 months ago

    Absolute’s TOO! (Like Mama’s TOO pizza)

    16
    Reply
    Peter
    Peter
    6 months ago
    Reply to  Chris

    Not familiar.

    2
    Reply
    Ian Alterman
    Ian Alterman
    7 months ago

    With respect, if I were to win a contest that led to the renaming of a bagel store, I would expect more than a simple t-shirt. I would expect bagels for life! 😉 And maybe even a permanent 1% of all profits of the store. 😉

    10
    Reply
    Billy
    Billy
    6 months ago
    Reply to  Ian Alterman

    Lighten up Francis.

    0
    Reply
    Steve M
    Steve M
    6 months ago
    Reply to  Ian Alterman

    This is The Rag’s contest, not the store’s.

    8
    Reply
    Ian Alterman
    Ian Alterman
    6 months ago
    Reply to  Steve M

    True. But what if the store decides that one of the ideas here is worth using? Given the “big bucks” that advertising firms can get for branding, it means that person would be being “ripped off.” 😉

    2
    Reply
    Raleigh Mayer
    Raleigh Mayer
    6 months ago
    Reply to  Ian Alterman

    Yup and yup.

    0
    Reply
    GG5877
    GG5877
    7 months ago

    Toasted

    and it could double as a weed dispensary:)

    12
    Reply
    Bastian
    Bastian
    7 months ago

    “Not Absolute Bagels”
    “Absolute Bagels: Electric Boogaloo”
    “2 Absolute, 2 Bagels”
    ” Absolutely Bagels”
    “Indeed Bagels”
    “Absolve Bagels”

    7
    Reply
    J.L.
    J.L.
    6 months ago
    Reply to  Bastian

    Wow, who knew this topic is even more popular than Bikelash on the UWS. Almost 300 and counting . I only have time to read the first 20. I’m going to riff on your second one.

    Baking 2, Electric Bageloo.
    Lol, at myself.

    2
    Reply
    J.L.
    J.L.
    6 months ago
    Reply to  J.L.

    Edit-

    Bakin’ 2: Electric Bageloo
    Bagels 2: Absolute Boogaloo

    1
    Reply
    L.P.
    L.P.
    6 months ago
    Reply to  Bastian

    Going with your INDEED BAGELS – so good.

    1
    Reply
    GG5877
    GG5877
    7 months ago

    Gemini came up with The Lox Smith

    Not bad at all

    We are all doomed:)

    10
    Reply
    DJB
    DJB
    6 months ago
    Reply to  GG5877

    Love it. Since lox has the s sound already, could also do The Lox Myth

    5
    Reply
    Christie M Mamanna
    Christie M Mamanna
    7 months ago

    It should be called “definitely bagels”

    11
    Reply
    Charles
    Charles
    7 months ago

    Out & Out Bagels

    2
    Reply
    DJL
    DJL
    7 months ago

    Bagel Abs (For all of us who would choose having a half dozen over having a six-pack)

    5
    Reply
    Ted Kheel
    Ted Kheel
    6 months ago
    Reply to  DJL

    Bagel Street

    3
    Reply
    Sal Bando
    Sal Bando
    7 months ago

    Absolutely Not Bagels

    4
    Reply
    Anna
    Anna
    6 months ago

    Independent Bagels

    0
    Reply
    Anne Born
    Anne Born
    6 months ago

    Bay 🕊️ Gulls

    3
    Reply
    Alyssa
    Alyssa
    6 months ago

    Ambiguous Bagels

    8
    Reply
    Steven Stark
    Steven Stark
    6 months ago

    ABSOLUTELY NOT THE OTHER GUYS BAGELS

    6
    Reply
    J G
    J G
    6 months ago

    Hole in One Bagel

    6
    Reply
    Joan
    Joan
    6 months ago

    Holy Bagels!
    Hole in One Bagels.

    4
    Reply
    Joan
    Joan
    6 months ago
    Reply to  Joan

    Holy Bagels Batman!

    0
    Reply
    Carlos
    Carlos
    6 months ago

    Holesome Bagels

    5
    Reply
    Simon
    Simon
    6 months ago

    Love You Lox

    3
    Reply
    Simon
    Simon
    6 months ago

    The Hole Truth

    1
    Reply
    S Max
    S Max
    6 months ago

    Schmear Pressure

    5
    Reply
    Bhumibol Adulyadej
    Bhumibol Adulyadej
    6 months ago

    Wanatit (Sunday in Thai) Bagels!

    2
    Reply
    Eugene Nickerson
    Eugene Nickerson
    6 months ago

    Gale Brewer Bagels! If Roy Rogers lent his name to a fast food joint, so can Gale Brewer!

    8
    Reply
    neighbor
    neighbor
    6 months ago
    Reply to  Eugene Nickerson

    Sorry, that would have to be the Shawn Abreu Bagels, he represents the area where Absolute (ex-Absolute?) bagel is located.

    0
    Reply
    Ronnie Eldridge
    Ronnie Eldridge
    6 months ago
    Reply to  neighbor

    Gale Brewer is still the UWS staple in a way others aren’t!

    0
    Reply
    A Gee
    A Gee
    6 months ago

    AbFab Bagels or Absolutely Fabulous Bagels

    5
    Reply
    Sammy
    Sammy
    6 months ago

    Definitive bagels

    3
    Reply
    Peter
    Peter
    6 months ago

    World-Famous Original Absolute Bagels, brought to you by Absolute Vodka.

    1
    Reply
    Amy
    Amy
    6 months ago
    Reply to  Peter

    It’s Ray’s Famous Original Absolute Bagels,

    1
    Reply
    Xenia
    Xenia
    6 months ago

    “Bagel Valley”
    “One-oh!-Eight Bagels”

    2
    Reply
    Huh
    Huh
    6 months ago
    Reply to  Xenia

    Or One-oh-ate

    1
    Reply
    Brad Hoylman-Sigal
    Brad Hoylman-Sigal
    6 months ago

    Cease and Desist Bagels

    12
    Reply
    A Fine EVSA member
    A Fine EVSA member
    6 months ago
    Reply to  Brad Hoylman-Sigal

    A Fine Bagel!

    1
    Reply
    Chris
    Chris
    6 months ago

    Resolute Bagels

    7
    Reply
    Ernesto
    Ernesto
    6 months ago

    Strauss Bagels — for Strauss Park
    Alma Bagels — for my cousin

    1
    Reply
    Heidi
    Heidi
    6 months ago

    Uncertain bagels

    6
    Reply
    Ed H
    Ed H
    6 months ago

    Bagel Joint

    4
    Reply
    Harry Lender
    Harry Lender
    6 months ago

    Some candidates:
    Call Your Lawyer
    Dumb Absolute Bagels
    Ab solute (no relation)
    Obsolete Bagels
    The Bagel Has Landed
    Absolution Bagels (thus absolving new owners of liability)
    HMS Bagel (becuz Charles Darwin)
    Rick’s Bagel Americain (becuz Humphrey Bogart lived down the street)

    9
    Reply
    ecm
    ecm
    6 months ago
    Reply to  Harry Lender

    Good ones!
    You could go into the bagel business yourself.

    0
    Reply
    Lily Goldstein
    Lily Goldstein
    6 months ago

    Bagels Without Limits!! Or Bagels Infinity!

    1
    Reply
    Thai Bagels
    Thai Bagels
    6 months ago

    Somporn’s Bagels

    1
    Reply
    Helen Marshall
    Helen Marshall
    6 months ago

    World’s Fair Bagels

    0
    Reply
    Tom Gulotta
    Tom Gulotta
    6 months ago

    Nassau Bagels

    0
    Reply

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