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By: Ellen Cans
Absolute Bagels lovers have one last chance to buy a plain, cinnamon raisin and pumpernickel bagels from the famed Upper West Side store that opened in the 1990s. As reported by the NY Post, the New York City bagel shop was unexpectedly shuttered last week, following a shocking health inspection. Now the “last” bagels are up for auction on eBay – allowing heartbroken customers to get a final bite of “NYC history”. Bidding for the single bagel started at $14.99, and a trio of bagels is being auctioned off online at $49.99. “Being auctioned are some of THE LAST Absolute Bagels ever made,” the eBay seller wrote. “Unfortunately, Absolute Bagels closed on December 12, 2024, meaning a piece of Upper West Side and NYC history has been lost. Luckily, these bagels, purchased before the health inspection, have been kept frozen, and could be yours!”
On Wednesday, the bagel store, located on Broadway between West 107th and 108th streets, was shut down by the city’s Department of Health. Per the Post, the shop failed an inspection, where inspectors found uncovered rat droppings in the food preparation, storage and service areas. Inspectors slapped the eatery with a 67-violation sheet, and ordered an immediate closure. Per the Post, the inspectors said sugar packets under the bagel counter were clearly gnawed on by rats, and added that rodent’s dead bodies were left decaying in glue traps on top of the walk-in unit. “We ordered a closure because we found pest and food contamination conditions posing an imminent public health hazard,” the Health Department said.
Absolute Bagels had its name on numerous best-bagel lists throughout its 30-year history, repeatedly being rated as one of the favorites in the city. The bagel joint, which was not Kosher and served bacon-egg-and-cheese-sandwiches, was famed for serving an assortment of different flavored bagels and spreads, including walnut cream cheese spread. The modest store-front, which was shuttered, had a plain bagel stuffed with red flowers laid outside on Friday with a sign in the window that read: “Thank you for your patronage for 30 years but…we have to go.”
The eatery’s loyal customers were shocked by its closure and by the multiple health and safety allegations against it. One long-time regular customer mourned its loss. “I’m honestly going to go home and cry,” said Kathryn Swaine, 53, telling The Post that she had gotten an everything bagel with plain cream cheese and tomato from there every day. “It’s the center of this neighborhood…Everyone inside — they feel like family. They’ve literally adopted me as their family. That’s what makes it special. It’s not a big business. They know everyone who comes in there.” Another loyal customer said: “It’s so sad. They’re iconic. They’re the best in the city. It’s really sad,” said Ashna Arora, 27. “It’s the end of an era.”
This is not the first closure for Absolute Bagel. The bagel store had been temporarily closed in 2013 and 2017 for similar health violations. There was no indication that will reopen this time, though. The eatery’s owner, Samek Thongkrieng, who has been renting the space since 1992, apparently told the property broker he would let the space go this time, per the Post.
The eBay bagel listing had no bids placed on any of the four auctions, as of Saturday night. The seller is offering free shipping with an estimated delivery date between Dec. 27 and Jan. 3. The bidding is ongoing till Dec. 23.
