Three years ago, Creve Coeur bid farewell to an iconic local establishment: The Bagel Factory. After 48 years of delighting the community with its New York-style water bagels, the shop at 11256 Olive Blvd. closed its doors for good in December 2022.
At the time, a sign in the window read, “BUSINESS FOR SALE,” signaling the end of an era for bagel enthusiasts. The shop, once a cash-only business famed for selling out by early afternoon, was renowned for its fresh, chewy bagels in classic varieties, like sesame, pumpernickel, and tzizel.
Hans Oberdorfer, who owned The Bagel Factory from 1989 to 1997, managed the sale of the business on behalf of the then-owner, Tony Moit. Reflecting on the closure, Oberdorfer said, “There’s no question in my mind it will be sold. It might take a couple of weeks, but I’m sure we’ll find a buyer.”
A recent visit to the location revealed a new(er) note taped to the window indicating the business will be under new management soon. There is no way to know how long this note has been there, and if and when this “new managment” will take over remains a mystery, but who knows, there may still be hope for hot, fresh bagels at The Bagel Factory, after all.
