Don't Worry Bagel Fans: Ess-A-Bagel Re-Opening Down The Block

The owners of Ess-a-Bagel schmeared our hearts with sadness when they announced the closure of the original Ess-a-Bagel because the store had been denied a lease renewal. The space will instead be split in two, and house a bank and another bagel store. But fear not, quality carb-lovers, for Ess-a-Bagel tweeted out this morning that they will be moving just down the block. 

Don't worry fans of Ess-a-Bagel's 1st Ave location, our delicious hand rolled bagels are just moving down the block!! #NYC'sBest=EssaBagel

— Ess-A-Bagel, Inc. (@EssABagel) January 17, 2015

No one knows for sure why the New York City bagel mainstay was pushed out of its original location. We reported last week that tensions began after Ess-a-Bagel founder Florence Wilson died in the midst of lease negotiations in 2013. But property owner East 21 Retail LLC believes that it should not be painted as the villain in this issue.

"When we purchased the property, our main priority was to keep Ess-a-Bagel as a tenant. Ess-a-Bagel is a tradition in this city and we had no desire to see them leave," an East 21 Retail LLC spokesperson told AM NY. "In the three years since, we've bent over backwards to come to a mutually fair agreement with Ess-a-Bagel's owners. Our offer would have allowed Ess-a-Bagel to remain — and even gave them the option to expand — in the space they are in currently."

Whatever the reason was, it looks like Gramercy won't be deprived of Ess-a-Bagel after all. Now, go load up on some nova to celebrate.