Livingston Bagel Shop Is A Family Story

Livingston, NJ – When 25-year-old Jordan Vaccari graduated from college, he couldn’t wait to go into the family business with his dad and brother.

It’s a story that resonates with Livingston bagel fans, who apparently appreciate the difference a passion for one’s work can make.

Since opening Ike’s Bagel Café in The Shoppes at the Livingston Circle a year ago, Vaccari has steadily been serving hand-rolled bagels and made-from-scratch fare for breakfast and lunch.

According to Vaccari, Ike’s makes about 60 dozen bagels daily and 180 dozen bagels each Saturday and Sunday.

The most popular flavors? Plain, everything, sesame and whole wheat.

“I come from a family of foodies,” said Vaccari, whose grandfathers (one of whom was the eponymously named “Ike”) were both in the food and catering business.

“Over the years I’ve helped my brother run our other bagel store in Wyckoff, Goldberg’s Famous Bagels for the last six years,” Vaccari said. “So I thought it would be a good idea to bring our bagels to Essex County.”

“We scouted locations for months,” said Vaccari, explaining why they chose Livingston for their new store. “My brother has been coming to the Zen Japanese Restaurant here at The Shoppes at the Livingston Circle, and we liked the fact that The Fresh Market was moving in. There also are many office buildings surrounding the center, filled with people who need to eat, and commuters coming on and off of Route 280. It was the logical place for us to open Ike’s.”

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Photos courtesy of Eastman Companies