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For anyone who grew up ordering matzo ball soup after a day at Old Orchard, here's some welcome news: The Bagel is heading back to the North Shore.
Eight years after the beloved Jewish deli closed its longtime outpost at Westfield Old Orchard in Skokie, The Bagel has announced plans to open a new location in downtown Glenview.
According to reporting by The Record North Shore, owner Marvin Barsky has signed a letter of intent for a ground-floor space at 1850 Glenview Road, part of a new mixed-use development called Cerca. If construction and approvals stay on schedule, the restaurant could open as early as Labor Day weekend, though other reports suggest a late fall or early winter debut remains possible.
The new restaurant is expected to occupy roughly 5,000 square feet and seat up to 150 guests. Barsky told The Record that longtime favorites aren't going anywhere, meaning diners can once again look forward to the deli's signature spread of lox platters, matzo ball soup, gefilte fish, deli sandwiches and other classic Jewish comfort foods.
The Bagel's history stretches back more than 75 years. The restaurant was founded in 1950 by Holocaust survivors Elsa and Herman Golenzar in Chicago's Albany Park neighborhood before expanding to other locations across the city and suburbs. Its Skokie location became a North Shore institution during its 31-year run at Old Orchard.
When that location closed in 2018, many regulars never stopped hoping for a return. Barsky says he still hears from former suburban customers and many make a weekly trek into the restaurant's Lakeview location on Broadway to get their fix.
The Glenview outpost will also feature a liquor license, a party room and a staff of roughly 35 to 40 employees. Rocio Carreras, whose father has worked as The Bagel's head chef for decades, will serve as the new location's general manager.
The Bagel may be opening a new location, but for many Chicagoans, it will feel a lot more like getting an old friend back.