Growing up in Manhattan, I found that the best bagels were just a block away from my apartment. Absolute Bagels sits on Broadway in the Upper West Side, and every day of the week, there are lines up and down the block for their specialty. Locals, including my family, knew they had to get there early in the morning before tourists flocked in the restaurant’s front doors. Bright walls catch customers’ attention immediately, as they are riddled with pictures of the store’s food, news articles, and awards for “Best Bagels in New York City.”
I always used to take my friends to Absolute Bagels when they visited the Upper West Side. Their reactions were all the same as they took their first bite. They were amazed by the perfect balance of exterior crunch and interior softness that blends with the cream cheese.
Fast forward to my first semester at UVA, my dorm took the first years on a morning trip to Bodo’s Bagels on the corner. “This place is a staple for UVA, it’s a must-need for your well being,” an upperclassman alerted the group. Just like Absolute, the line was already packed with students, winding around the queue inside the restaurant. With dimly lit murals surrounding patrons, Bodo’s brought a much different vibe than my hometown go-to, reminding me of the decorative queues at Disney World. I sat down to take the first bite of my Bodo’s cinnamon-raisin bagel. It was gooey and warm, with the butter melting with the dough. Certainly different from the bagels I was used to, but I didn’t complain. I ate a dozen more of these pastries throughout the fall.
When I came back home for winter break, the first thing my parents said to me was that Absolute Bagels had been shut down the week before. Apparently I wasn’t the only one in shock at the abrupt news. According to the NYC Department of Health, investigators visited the store and noted evidence of roaches and rats. The next day, storefront gates covered the glass windows, and a piece of paper was stuck on with packing tape spelling out “WE ARE CLOSED.” When I walked past, there were flowers and sympathy cards scattered near the front.
Without a close source of my favorite breakfast treat, I had to scramble to find my new go-to spot. In Manhattan, all of the other specialty bagel stores seemed like such a trek from my apartment. After some reflection during the first few days of break, I thought, why not Bodo’s? Although the store is not of New York origin, it’s in a town in which I’m going to spend most of my next four years. A morning walk down to the corner is refreshing, and it is incredibly rewarding when you finally sit down with your order. The long lines rekindle the anticipation Absolute once held. While Bodo’s misses the crispy-chewy balance that makes New York bagels so loved, I like the new approach of a unique texture—one you only get in Charlottesville.
For many students in their first year of college, they learn how to start new routines: new city, new friends, new priorities. Alongside these, I also experienced changes in my old routines. I still miss Absolute Bagel’s radiating energy, but it’s safe to say I found a new favorite bagel spot.
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