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!
The long lines are not as consistent here as the were at Absolute Bagels. Only a few days a week if that.
Are the bagels substantively the same?
In my opinion, yes, they’re pretty much the same and that’s a good ty. I wish they were offering some seating, but seating does add a whole layer of complication that they must want to avoid. Ideally, they’ll put in a another ramp to the new space, no matter what.
I wonder why they didn’t just rename it “Total Bagels”
“Still, Kim said the business is trying to reclaim the New Absolute Bagels moniker.”
Bagels!!!!!!!!!!!
Whatever happened to the unofficial contest we had here in the Westside rag re naming the new ownership? I had thought there was supposed to be winners and swag rag prizes .
Excellent news, and i’m on board with the folks who just want bagels, and don’t want to wait behind, “Can I please have an everything, scooped, with one side toasted, the other with tofu spread, with three slices of tomatoes and 6 capers”. . . H&H used to have an express line for folks that just want bagels in a bag, this place should do the same.
H & H had MUCH BETTER bagels.
Why not “Absolutely Bagels” ??
Probably same problem as New Absolute Bagels – I don’t know the legal standard but I bet it has to do with confusing the public into thinking it’s the same place.
FWIW, the staff of ex-Absolute didn’t know about all the new names we suggested. I mentioned it to them and showed them all the (very funny!) comments, in an effort to get them to adopt one of those names. They said they would tell the owner, but clearly that didn’t go anywhere, since they are still calling themselves. 2788. Too bad.
Lenny’s bagels was far better & offered much more than just bagels, e.g., free delivery & seating in addition to lots of food options.
Are there any places in the 90’s where we can buy a decent bagel?
First they started accepting credit cards and now they’ll be taking online orders? Has hell frozen over?