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Kossar’s Bagels & Bialys reopens with sandwiches, homemade schmears and more

Keeping up with the Kossar’s is about to become your favorite morning routine.

America’s oldest bialy bakery, founded on the Lower East Side in 1936, is making a triumphant comeback on Feb. 5.

New owners, a new menu and a trendy new look bring Kossar’s into the 21st century, putting the Grand Street bakery on the map with modern Jewish eateries like the long-wait-inducing Russ & Daughters Cafe and Black Seed Bagels.

Evan Giniger, who has co-owned the bakery with David Zablocki since 2013, explained that Kossar’s decided to add bagels and homemade schmears to Kossar’s repertoire after they closed to remodel this past September. A major renovation of the basement prep space, and the addition of a bagel rising, boiling and baking area took longer than expected, but the doughy results are well worth it.

Previously, Kossar’s was only licensed as a wholesale bakery. “You could buy a bialy, some cream cheese, and take a knife and spread it on yourself, if you wanted,” Giniger said.

Kossar’s 2.0 now features “Newish and Jewish” sandwich menus, a build-your-own breakfast sandwich option and “Kossar’s Creations,” which includes homemade babka French toast and a pletzel (think the Cronut version of a bialy and bagel mash-up) pizza.

Take a look around and get ready to celebrate the opening on Friday, which Kossar’s publicists have proclaimed #NationalBialyDay. Yes, that’s a thing.