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.
