About Us

Warren and Elise Daniel, transplanted New Yorkers who missed their favorite “native” food items, started the Bagelry in 1983. Since that time, The Bagelry has been a stopping place for loyal customers for morning coffee and breakfast, lunchtime soup and sandwiches, afternoon espresso and snacks, dinner salads and quiche, and weekend catering and parties. For those who may wonder about the origins of the business, here is our short version of the story:

It all began with bagels. During their visits back to New York, Warren and Elise would find themselves with a list of bagel orders to bring back to hungry friends in New Hampshire. It was on one of these urban journeys that they came up with a business idea – to open a bagel bakery in the seacoast area of New Hampshire . After a few years of planning and training, The Bagelry was born on St. Patrick's Day in 1983! That first day, all bagels were sold out by the early afternoon, far exceeding expectations! A family business, The Bagelry grew from one location in Durham to a multi-unit operation, but was ultimately scaled back to it's original beloved Durham roots in order to offer better quality control and personal satisfaction for staff and management alike. One of The Bagelry's best moves was hiring Abby Silverman-Claridge during that first year of operation, who has been the operating manager for many years. The Bagelry's employees are our greatest asset!

Although still located in the same Durham shopping center as the original Bagelry, the operation moved to a more convenient and visible location in recent years, where traditional New York-style bagels, made from the finest ingredients, are boiled in water and then baked.  The Bagelry has been baking REAL bagels for over 20 years!!!

Although always more than just a bagel bakery, The Bagelry has broadened its operation to include a full variety of homemade soups, salads, desserts, coffee drinks, smoothies, and more! Catering is also one of the areas that into which The Bagelry has expanded, offering a variety of delicious, artful platters for all types and sizes of occasions.

Today, the store serves local customers from every walk of life, as well as the many visitors that come to Durham. Customers find a little bit of home-away-from-home, and the feeling of a neighborhood place to meet friends or make new ones. From enjoying a simple cup of good coffee to choosing a freshly made delicious meal, The Bagelry is a favorite of many. Those who visit enjoy an exciting environment built on good service, fresh food, and a warm welcome, with a local touch and a broad vision. We still hold the ideas of great food and great service near and dear to our hearts.