‘The Neighborhood Spot’: New Bagel Store Opens In Manalapan

MANALAPAN, NJ — A new bagel shop has officially opened its doors in Monmouth County.

The Bagel Bar, located at 345 Union Hill Road in Manalapan, hosted its grand opening event on Jan. 15 (coincidentally falling on National Bagel Day).

The shop’s grand opening comes after plans for The Bagel Bar were announced in the spring, with the store now offering customers a place where “New York-style bagels, breakfast classics and kosher-style comfort collide.”

“Before I had the store, I would never go to a bagel shop thinking I was going to get a nice, proper latte and a real bagel that are both made in-house,” Bagel Bar Owner William Shuster told Patch.

“Normally, coffee shops will have bagels that are brought in from other places with good coffee, or a bagel store will have really good bagels and just normal drip coffee,” he continued.

With the Bagel Bar, Shuster is aiming to change those expectations by offering in-house hand-rolled and boiled bagels, an espresso bar, specialty coffees and lattes (which the Bagel Bar collaborated with Offshore Coffee Co. on) and more.

According to their online menu, the shop currently offers a variety of drinks (ranging from cappuccinos to matcha lattes and tea), as well as kosher food options, omelets, bagels, sandwiches, reubens and breakfast burritos.

While there’s no shortage of food and drinks to choose from at the Bagel Bar, Shuster said he would personally recommend “The Sweet Heat” to anyone visiting the store.

The “breakfast banger” consists of hot Carnegie pastrami, eggs, melted cheddar and hot honey. Customers are able to choose a bagel, roll, hero, or wrap for the sandwich.

“I really want [The Bagel Bar] to appeal to everyone and just be the neighborhood spot,” Shuster said. "We also have a lot of seating, which the shopping center [that the Bagel Bar is in] doesn't have a lot of."

Since their opening in mid-January, Shuster said the Bagel Bar has received “a lot of support” from the Manalapan and broader Monmouth County community, and that as a former Staten Island resident, he’s also met various locals who share his NY background.

Though the shop has only just opened, Shuster said he wants to do more for his local community with the store, as well as connect with other businesses in the area.

“I want to do a lot more and be more involved in the community,” Shuster said. “I have a wife and daughter, and we chose Manalapan to raise her in…the past two weeks have been busy, but I think as I get more employees that can work, I can work on doing more things for the community.”

“That’s part of my plan,” he continued. “I’m a big local person. I want to be involved.”

To learn more about the Bagel Bar, you can visit their website.

The Bagel Bar is located at 345 Union Hill Road, Manalapan.

Previous Coverage

• ‘A Good Hangout Spot For Everyone’: New Bagel Store In The Works For Manalapan