Business

Goldberg’s Famous Bagels opens in Riverhead

Michah Brown, left, store manager at the Riverhead branch of Goldberg's Famous Bagels, and co-worker Rich Ambrose prepare customers' orders Thursday. (Rachel Young photos)
Michah Brown, left, store manager at the Riverhead branch of Goldberg’s Famous Bagels, and co-worker Rich Ambrose prepare customers’ orders Thursday. (Credit: Rachel Young)

Just a few days ago, Veronica Meehan of Riverhead was still trekking 20 minutes to Goldberg’s Famous Bagels in Southampton once a week to purchase an order of the store’s “flagels” — thin-sliced bagels — for her children to enjoy.

“It was worth the trip,” she said.

Happily, Ms. Meehan now has a much shorter distance to traverse in order to satisfy her kids’ cravings: Nearly 10 months after its site plan was approved by the Riverhead Planning Board, Goldberg’s Famous Bagels opened its doors on East Main Street in the former Woolworth building this morning.

As he sliced roast beef for a sandwich Thursday afternoon, Micah Brown, manager at the large, airy new Riverhead store, said it was “just another day at the bagel shop,” with a steady stream of customers placing orders. Mr. Brown, who lives in Riverhead, previously worked at the Southampton location for 15 years.

Things were similarly busy Thursday at Goldberg’s Famous Bagels in Mattituck, which opened in the Waldbaum’s shopping center July 24.

“Things are going really well,” store manager Chris Conlan of Calverton said. “People are really nice here; they’re happy to see us and we’re happy that they’re in the store.”

Customer Erin Occhiogrosso of Mattituck is one of them.

“I used to have to ride all the way to Southold or Jamesport to get a bagel,” she said while enjoying lunch with her 7-year-old daughter, CC, and her daughter’s friend, Rebecca Nyilas, 7, of Cutchogue. “Now it’s right down the block.”

Founded by Mark Goldberg of East Hampton, Goldberg’s Famous Bagels bakes its bagels on-site daily. In addition to its Riverhead and Mattituck locations, it has 11 stores in New Jersey, as well as one store each in Southampton, East Hampton and Montauk. A Bridgehampton store is also in the works, Mr. Goldberg said earlier this year.

The Riverhead and Mattituck stores are both open seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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