Meet the Owners: The Puglieses of Village Bagel & Deli

When you walk into the Village Bagel & Deli, you might pick on something co-owner Joe Pugliese makes his top concern in-store: it's absolutely spotless.

"It's my virtue here: cleanliness," said Joe, as he quickly cleaned up a few drops of coffee on the counter at the self-serve coffee area. "Everything here sparkles – it means everything to me."

The deli is located in what used to be a long-time Babylon favorite: the Tradewinds Deli, which closed up in 2011, leaving the main Business District without a full-blown deli counterpart. Village Bagel & Deli opened its doors in the middle of 2012, ushering in a new era at the same place.

Joe and his family, including his cousin Sal and sister Maria, run the new deli, stocked with only the best food possible.

"We get hand-rolled bagels from Manhattan from a place called New Yorker Bagels," Joe explained, noting how many bagels do not get that true New York City taste because of the water used. "We finish the baking process in the back."

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And Village Bagel & Deli is not the Pugliese's first go in the food industry.

Joe, who grew up in Queens and lives in Massapequa, has been in the business for over 17 years, opening another business called North Fork Bagels out east. He called that his "stepping stone."

Sal has been in the business even longer – 20 years – and said he knew there would be a lot of customers in Babylon Village.

The deli features a wide range of delicious bagels and sandwiches, making it the perfect spot for both breakfast and lunch. Joe said customers have been hitting the deli for their Roast Beef Supreme, chopped salads, spreads and fresh fruit. While speaking to Patch, Joe excused himself twice to refill a refrigerator with fresh fruit after it ran out.

"That happens sometimes," he laughed. "I don't get to stop – just keep cleaning and restocking."

And if the food does not bring you in, the friendliness will. Every person that walks through the front door had Joe's attention with a smile and a "Howyadoin'?"

"We are trying to keep it small and very traditional here," said Joe, showing a quaint window display. "We want you to feel like you're coming into your own kitchen... give families a place to go."

And for Joe, Babylon was the place to go.

"When we were looking for a store, this was the first place we saw," he said with a grin. "It wasn't even a competition after that. This was the place for us."

Village Bagel & Deli can be found on Facebook – like their page here!