Belmar Has a Brand New Bagel Store, Come Try Hot Bagels!
This past Sunday the WRAT crew participated in the 50th Annual Belmar- Lake Como St. Patrick’s Day Parade, so I made my way to Belmar early to beat the traffic and the roadblocks around the town. A few minutes after I got to the radio station, our Promotion Director, Jackie showed up with green bagels to commemorate the occasion. I asked her where she found green bagels, and she told me that a new bagel place had opened up at 703 9th Avenue near Belmar Plaza called Hot Bagels.
Hot Bagels is the new store that replaced Belmar Bagels, a place I used to go to for a good bagel with cream cheese, lox, red onion, and capers. Owners, Don and Wendy closed their doors after serving customers for the last 19 years. I appreciate their commitment to our community, and I wish them love and success. These fine folks really made a good bagel.
I haven’t met the new owners of Hot Bagels, but I did message them on social media to find out if they make their bagels the old-fashioned way, meaning are they kettle boiled, then baked? They responded with a hearty, “Yes we do.” Thank goodness! I’m originally from New York with ties to Brooklyn via my father and his family, and the best bagels during my childhood came from Brooklyn. Plus, my late father-in-law was an old-school bagel baker from Brooklyn who ran his own bagel business. I clearly know a good bagel when I bite into one.
I also found out the new owners have been in the business for 40-plus years. They have a store in Red Bank that I’ve driven by a thousand times, it’s called Hot Bagels Brooklyn’s Finest. You can find that location at 368 Broad St, Red Bank, NJ 07701. I see the word “Brooklyn” and feel nostalgic and comforted knowing these people have it down to a science when making a good bagel.
I immediately went online to find out a little more about our soon-to-be new friends down the road here in Belmar. I found a website still under construction, but with a full menu with a large selection of breakfast sandwiches, specialty sandwiches, and bagel accompaniments such as freshly whipped spreads, baked goods, salads, and more. I also found a photo of the kettle they boil their bagels in. Their bagels are big, fluffy pillows of goodness, made with quality ingredients.
Next time you’re in Belmar, stop by Hot Bagels and tell them Rockyn Robyn sent you.
