It has been a long time coming, but Richmond is getting another shot at having its own homegrown bagel place.
Husband and wife Kevin and Jacqueline Sharman are setting shop in Carytown, and by the end of October they hope to fill the city’s bagel hole with Jaks Bagels & Deli.
“We felt like there was a need for good bagels,” said Jacqueline Sharman. “We shopped and shopped for the perfect place until we ended up driving down Cary Street one Sunday and found the pink door.”
For now the space at 3443 W. Cary St. is completely empty, but Sharman said they are starting work soon.
Sharman, an attorney for Pagano & Associates in Sandston, said the venture is being funded by some investors, a bank loan and some of their own capital. Her husband is leaving his job as a transportation director for a construction firm to run the restaurant, while Sharman said she will continue to practice law.
Richmond isn’t exactly known for its bagels. There is Cupertino’s out in Innsbrook, which has gained some buzz around town, and a local shop called Bagel Czar briefly operated a few years ago at 929 W. Grace St. but didn’t last. There was also the homespun chain Lazy Bagel, but that closed, too.
Nonetheless, Sharman said Richmonders are hungry for more bagel options.
“The response we’ve gotten on our website has been outstanding. Go to any Panera at lunch time, and the lines are out the door,” Sharman said.
The Sharmans have been kitchen-testing their bagel recipe since coming upon the idea in February. She knew they had it perfected once her husband couldn’t get enough.
“I love bagels. My husband never had a good bagel and didn’t even like bagels before we developed our own recipes. He has since become a fan,” she said.
In addition to bagels, the shop will serve coffee and sandwiches. They have also leased the upstairs and are planning a catered conference room for business and other group meetings.
and whatever happened to Obrienstein’s?
That’s a really inconvenient spot for morning commuters to pick up their breakfast. Plus there’s already a good amount of coffee competition in that area. And the lease is probably expensive.
You forgot about Einstein’s — two locations that I know of and two more coming because they took Alphine Bagel away from VCU. Their bagels are pretty good. So was Alpine’s. Panera’s are not as good.
I’m afraid I have to agree with Delrose that the Carytown location seems to be an inconvenient spot if you want to generate daily, i.e., morning commute, traffic. However, I know that commuter business is not the end all, be all of bagel success. I understand the enduring attraction of Carytown and I want nothing more than to see new businesses take up the banner. I wish them the very best of luck.
One local bagel business you failed to mention (probably because it’s almost ancient history *sigh*) is Royce’s Bagels in Chesterfield County. They were a staple for me and my family until they closed down.
O’Briensteins at Regency was the BEST! I think it’s been gone for about 20 years now though…I wonder what went wrong there. Hopefully Jaks will be just as good!
Delrose, McDonald’s, Baker’s Crust, Ellwood’s Coffee, several 7-11s, and several other coffee and breakfast serving restaurants are in that area for a reason–There’s a ton of pedestrian and vehicular traffic! I think that location is great! I would expect to hear comments about how parking in Carytown is horrible, but few people are in Carytown in the morning.
I hope Jakes has asked about adding some outdoor tables, too.
What’s most important is Jake’s will will be the only bagel destination in Carytown, and possibly The City. Panera Bread on Grace St might be the closest competition. Can anyone think of anywhere else? I don’t think Montana Bread Company has bagels.
If it’s a deli, I hope it’s a REAL deli, like New York Deli was back in the 50′s and 60′s. Now THAT would be a destination that Richmonder’s would love. There isn’t a REAL deli anywhere around. Lox, bagels, smoked white fish, green pickled tomatoes, beef tongue, rye bread….
RobinsonSt, I realize this. But remember that before Mezzanine started, their location was a coffee shop with decent food that failed under 4 different owners, one right after another.
Sorry, but there is still nothing in RVA that passes the “real bagel” test. Cupertino’s comes close, Einstein Bros. is edible. Neither has Russian pump, or real lox. If I want real bagels, I’ve got to go back to NYC for H&H…
But no progress on the Jak’s bagels location in Carytown. Rumor is they have ceased work on the location. What’s the scoop?
I have some questions for Jacks:
1: It looks like nothing is being served there. Where is the food? Usually at a bagel shop you see the bagels.
2:The space looks empty and dark. There is hardly any decoration on the walls and the lighting is inadequate.
3: It doesn’t look like a deli. Where are the unique items on the menu? I mean why would I choose this place over any other. What are the specialties?
4: Do you have real Lox? If you do maybe you should advertise it because a lot of places around here don’t have any.
1. The bagels are in plain view in the middle section of the restaurant. The baked goods are in a display case. Perhaps replicas of what is being served should be displayed in the front window.
2. I will make note of the “inadequate lighting” and see about making some changes.
3. The Jersey Jak is unique, the Jak Attack is unique, the Sizzlin’ Jak is unique…
4. Yes we have real lox. It is listed online, on the wall menu, and on the print menu.
I had a onion bagel with veggie cream cheese this morning…the bagel was fresh and schmear tasted pretty good! I’ll try the lox next time.