Rosie's Bakery To Close In Chestnut Hill, Bagel Table To Open

NEWTON, MA — It's actually happening. Rosie's Bakery closed its Chestnut Hill location after 42 years there.

Rosie's Bakery owners of some three decades both of Newton, Judy Rosenberg and Eliot Winograd shuttered the Inman Square location in 2015 after the supply kitchen that had been baking Rosie’s original recipes for some seven years, went out of business with very little notice, according to Rosie's blog. At its height, there were five Rosie's Bakeries around Boston. But by 2016 only one was left. That's when Rosenberg sold it and the brand to fellow Newton resident Galina Laffer.

Lest you think that's the end of the line for Rosie's, think again.

Laffer said that although they packed up and left The Street location, she and the baking staff are moving to a central spot in Brighton to set up a commissary and have the main whole sale operation. And you can still purchase Rosie's baked goods online send a batch of cookies to someone in California or get a personalized cake in person at the Bagel Table as well as Athan's Bakery in Brighton and Brookline.

"And you can get a warm Rosie's chocolate chip cookie at the Superluxe," said Laffer.

Laffer, who emigrated from Ukraine at age 19 to go to school in the area said she found Rosie's something like a quarter century ago and it blew her away. Everything was different to her in the U.S. and then she tried something at Rosie's Chestnut Hill spot.

"My tastebuds instantly recognized my home. It was homemade. The ingredients were so pure," she said. "And this was only the first place that it was truly made like my grandma makes it. It felt to me like, 'oh my gosh I found home.' It’s made with home love."

It's that feeling of love that she says has fueled her. Fast forward and now Laffer has her own family, she's raising two young children and taking care of her mother on her own in addition to taking over Rosie's with an eye toward spreading the love.

"I’m hoping to have Rosie’s chocolate chip cookies and other baked goods be available through major supermarkets and small gourmet grocers," she said. She currently looking for investors, she said.

Stay tuned for more on what's next for Rosie's.

What's next for the space?

In its place The Bagel Table is set to open, bringing OMG! bagels and other sweets to the same space.

“We are so excited to be at the forefront of Boston’s bagel boom. Eating an OMG! Bagel is a rite of passage for every Boston foodie; we’re thrilled The Bagel Table will bring them to The Street while also continuing Rosie’s Bakery’s remarkable legacy,” said General Manager of The Street Alana Frey in a press release.

From The Street's press release:

The Bagel Table, featuring OMG! Bagels, which was The Street’s first pop-up in 2015, will open in December.

Owners Ed Eglitis and Curt Leiden will serve a variety of OMG! Bagels’ chewy New York Style bagels, as well as a Flat Top English Muffin, locally made cream cheeses and gluten free options.

Look for more than a dozen flavored bagels like The Chestnut Hill made from challah bread, French Toast, Jalapeno Siracha Cheddar, and Asiago. Classic flavors like Everything, Onion, and Cinnamon Raisin will also be available. Bagels are priced at $1.30 each; six for $7; 13 for $13.

And it won't just be bagels here: on the menu will be everything from locally smoked fishes to New York style desserts, including cheesecake, black and white cookies and crumb cake. The Bagel Table will also offer a range of classic New York style deli sandwiches like corned beef, turkey, and pastrami. During the summer, it will offer Pearl hot dogs.

Hours: The Bagel Table will be open daily for breakfast, lunch, coffee and pastry seven days a week: Monday-Saturday from 7 a.m. -6 p.m. Sunday 7 a.m.-4p.m. www.mybageltable.com

Location: 9 Boylston Street, neighboring Ronsky’s, MiniLuxe and Star Market.

Photo courtesy Bagel Table