By Spencer Davis
The bagel shop 2788 Bagels, formerly known as New Absolute Bagels, and before that, Absolute Bagels, is expanding its footprint by taking over an adjacent storefront for to-go and delivery orders, according to a sign that went up in recent days atop the location.
The shop, located at 2788 Broadway between West 108th and 107th streets, is expanding into the storefront to its north at 2790 Broadway. The space was formerly occupied by Effy Hair Boutique until it closed due to “high rent,” the owner, Effy, told the Rag in January.
Amy Kim, a manager at 2788, told the Rag the new storefront will allow the business to offer online orders via food delivery apps like Uber Eats and DoorDash, and is expected to open in about two months.
The bagel shop has also installed a permanent 2788 Bagels sign above its original storefront, indicating the new name may become permanent. The shop changed its name from New Absolute Bagels in March following a threat of legal action by its previous owner, Sam Thongkrieng. Still, Kim said the business is trying to reclaim the New Absolute Bagels moniker.
“Maybe later this name or the other name,” she said.
The shop’s expansion into the next-door storefront imitates the growth of its neighbor, Mama’s Too!, the immensely popular Upper West Side pizzeria which doubled its footprint by taking over an adjacent storefront last year. While the pizzeria used the additional space to add an extra oven and create a unified space for its customers to wait and eat indoors, Kim said the bagel shop will not use the new 2788 space to expand its kitchen or seating. In fact, the two storefronts will be separated by a door to the apartment building above.
Kim added that 2788 sought to expand due to customers’ complaints about the long lines that traditionally form for the shop’s bagels.
“Many people complain to me on the weekend, they want to just get a dozen or just three or four bagels, but it’s a long line,” Kim said.
Since opening late last year, 2788 has maintained the long lines built by its predecessor. The line, which historically formed on the northern side of the business, changed directions a couple of years ago following the closure of Garden of Eden, the next-door grocery that had fruit stands occupying the space in its front for years. Though the Japanese grocery store Hashi Market opened in the former Garden of Eden space late last year, 2788’s line has continued to form on the southern side of its door.
The expanded footprint comes amid increasing frustration with the growing lines outside of New York City’s most popular eateries. One website, Damn Lines, seeks to mitigate the problem by providing real-time video feeds of queues outside busy restaurants, but 2788 Bagels is yet to make an appearance on the site.
It is unclear whether the additional space will solve 2788’s line problem —the shop was recently named one of the 17 best bagels in New York City by the New York Times.
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Great news!