Every morning, owner Mei Huang steps into Saratoga Bagels, not just as the person behind the counter, but as a friend to the community she has cultivated over the years. When Huang first entered the bagel business by purchasing Saratoga Bagels in 1997, she had limited knowledge of running a business, let alone making bagels. Huang had only immigrated from China two years earlier in 1995 But inspired by her love for food and the chance to pursue her dreams, she took a leap of faith.
“‘How do we start?’” Huang said. “‘How do we learn it?’ The previous owner had the original bagel recipe. We learned it from him. When I started the business, I knew I always needed food; I love food. It just so happened that I found out this place was for sale, so I came in and learned everything from scratch.”
For the first few years, Huang focused on learning English and making the food and drinks — most of which were unfamiliar to her. The previous owner helped her for the first few weeks, teaching her how to make the bagels from scratch. She would come in every morning at 4 a.m. and write down the names of all the cream cheese flavors, drinks and other menu items, committing them to memory. Through hard work and determination, Huang transformed Saratoga Bagels into a staple in the community.
Avid customer Toni Marcini has been coming to Saratoga Bagels for three years. He comes in once a week and has built a first-name relationship with the workers. Initially drawn to the shop because it was close to his workplace, Marcini’s first positive visit turned into a tradition of weekly visits.
“It’s hard to find a place that offers consistent service, consistent food and truly cares about what they do, ” Marcini said. “It’s hard to come by. So, I think people should come here. It’s just a bit more like family. It’s more cozy for me.”
Similar to Marcini, customer Maryanne Siobhan comes to Saratoga Bagels for its convenience. She appreciates that it is close to her home, and even if she comes in every other month, she considers it part of her breakfast rotation. It’s there when she needs it, and service is always efficient, which keeps her coming back.
“It’s close by, and I just get a bagel with cream cheese,” Siobhan said. “They always have the one I like, so I keep coming back. I’ve been coming here for years, though I’m not sure exactly when I started. It’s just become a part of my routine, something familiar that I enjoy every time.”
Huang serves a variety of customers daily. In the morning, she often sees adults come in, grab a bagel and then head to work. She also has a lot of high school students from local schools, such as Saratoga, Lynbrook and MVHS, who come in for lunch. In the afternoon, younger students come in when they get out of school.
“I am very excited every day,” Huang said. “I love what I’m doing, so come in and you could see all your friends, the customers, and they’ll become my friends now, and everybody gets along so well over here. And then it’s a good feeling every morning. I looking forward to getting up in the morning to come to work.”
Senior Tvisha Jain goes to Saratoga Bagels once a month, often with her friends during lunch. She has tried many other bagel places but finds Saratoga Bagels to be especially delicious. Jain finds the flavors to be more unique and always purchases the Asiago Bagel with Jalapeno Cream Cheese. Her friends and she consider Saratoga Bagels as a go-to spot, especially after big occasions.
“My favorite memory is when we went there last year after AP testing,” Jain said. “It was just the perfect snack, the perfect meal, after three hours of hard work. It felt like exactly what I needed to unwind and relax. Their bagels are just so yummy.”
Huang has spent time trying to perfect the bagel recipe for customers like Jain to find so memorable. To refine her recipes, she visits different bagel places and tries various other recipes to perfect her own.
“When we go to New York,” Huang said. “We visit a bagel shop everywhere we go. We try them out to see the differences in the people, the texture, and everything. So, we can implement some modifications.”
Every bagel made at Saratoga Bagels is made from scratch, using boiling and steaming techniques to create an authentic bagel experience. With everything completely made in-house, Huang’s dedication to quality shines through. Driven by her passion, Huang works hard every day to continue perfecting her recipes and creating a welcoming experience that makes Saratoga Bagels feel like a family.
“Overall, I’m really grateful to be part of Saratoga,” Huang said. “I feel like I’m part of a big family here. There are a lot of kids who’ve been coming here since they were little. They were born and grew up here, and it’s great to see them as they get older and have bright futures. They bring their families in, and it’s just special and very fulfilling. The feeling is just amazing. I’m truly joyful to see everyone who comes here, and it’s like being part of a big bagel family.”
