Thursday, March 11, 2010

Kensington Bagels

There was once a bagel store on McDonald Avenue off the corner of Church many years ago. It was on the East side of the street about one or two stores before the apartment buildings just South of Dennys. It may have been called "McDonald Bagels". I remember going there as a kid with my Dad. It had old wooden floors that were usually covered with sawdust. There must have been at least three large stainless steel ovens in the place. And it was always hot in there any time of the day. Now, all they sold in the store was bagels and baileys. I don't even think they sold milk or soda until many years later. The guys that worked in there always looked like they just got out of the joint too, and most of the time they never wore any shirts at all. With sweat dripping from their faces in the summertime, you just closed your eyes when it landed on the bagels. Pretending not to see it, because they would probably kill you if you said something about it anyway. And the roaches in the store knew better too, mother nature teaches bugs to keep away from hot bagels, and the bagels in there were always hot. Yeah, on any Saturday night in Kensington it was the early edition New York Times followed by a trip to McDonald Bagels. In the days when a dozen gave you fourteen, the heat of the bag you carried home warmed both your heart and your soul all at the same time.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I remember that place we use to go there after a couple of beers because it had cheap food. We use to buy two bagels each and drive away stuffed.

Mark B. said...

Familiar trek down to there on Saturday night to get hot bagels ("don't eat 'em cause they form a big lump in your stomach") and Sunday's paper.....early edition......circa early 1960's,

Elliot James said...

Saturday night Sunday New York Daily News was our tradition. Couldn't miss Dick Tracy, Lil Abner, Brenda Starr, Mary Worth...

Pete said...

Remember the Bagel place real well from the 60s and 70s. One of the old guys with a permanent dent in his lip from the ever-present cigar (where did the ashes fall?). Coming home from Bishop Ford, I'd stop for a salted (10 cents) 'cause it was cheaper than buying a soft pretzel (cheap bast**d that I was). Also remember heading to Izzy & Benny's or the stand next to the Beverly Tavern (then the Liberty Coffee Shop) for the Daily News "Night Owl" edition. As far as comics, I also liked Dondi (a boy & his sheepdog) and Pottsy (about a fat cop).

Unknown said...

I spent a lot of time in the back where they boiled the bagels before baking because my dad liked hanging out with the owner - his name was Freddy. We always left with a big bag of bagels and orange drink. Every once in a while we'd go to Yonkers or Roosevelt Raceway. He picked me up from school when my sister was born. I think the guy with the cigar was Sam, my next door neighbor at 317 Dahill Rd.