Delancey Street bagels serves St. Joe’s students
In a world of chain bagel shops, Delancey Street Bagels in the Wynnewood Shopping Center has been holding its own for almost 30 years.
Before Jan Marc Dorfman, the original owner since 1989, opened Delancey Street Bagels, he was in the business of selling vinyl and working in the music marketing industry.
Dorfman attributes his jump from music to bagels as one of opportunity.
“The world changes and you have to change with it,” Dorfman said. “You’re old in music, but you’re never too old in baking. That’s why I’m here. An opportunity came to me, and I had to take it.”
Dorfman said his primary focus at Delancey Street Bagels is providing his customers with the little details that small businesses can offer.
“It’s not easy to get up at 1:30 in the morning, come to work at 2:30 in the morning and start baking fresh to be ready to open at 6:30,” Dorfman said. “Small businesses need this kind of attention.”
Delancey Street bagels are baked in-house every morning, though they are mixed and portioned offsite.
A bagel at Delancey Street is $1.19, and you can get a baker’s dozen for $12.99. A varied menu also includes pastries, muffins, cakes, omelets, breakfast and lunch sandwiches and breakfast burritos. Of course, there’s coffee, too.
The cheapest items on the menu are the mini muffins or fruit pockets, which cost $1.09. The most expensive item on the menu is the Nova Lox sandwich at $13.99. Day-old bagels are a bargain at half price.
Customer favorites include the everything bagel, a bacon, egg and cheese bagel sandwich and the “insanely good tuna salad,” according to Molly Limdley, operations and marketing manager.
Delancey Street recently started working with Grubhub, Uber Eats and Caviar to have their products delivered directly to consumers. Dorfman said he is also working on adding an “easy pickup option” to the website in the coming months, allowing customers to order online and swing by to pick them up.
Jackie Lomino ’20 said Delancey Street Bagels is a regular spot for her and her friends to visit on the weekend.
“I love going there for rainbow bagels,” Lomino said. “They’re always fresh, they have the best cream cheese spreads to choose from, and they’re affordable for college students.”
A typical weekend morning at Delancey Street Bagels includes a line to the door and a constant flurry of activity.
“Our staff here is really great,” Limdley said. “It’s hard work to keep up on the weekends, but getting through the long lines is very satisfying.”
Limdley has been an employee at Delancey Street Bagel for 11 years.
“It is definitely a great place to work.” Limdley said. “I worked here in high school, and I’m in grad school right now. It’s awesome to be able to come to work at a place that is so familiar and supportive.”
St. Joe’s student athletes are also Delancey Street Bagel fans. The women’s lacrosse and field hockey teams often order “a whole bunch of bagels for their long bus rides,” Dorfman said.
Jordan Olenginski ’21, who plays on the field hockey team, said she always looks forward to Delancey Street on game day.
“Delancey’s is my favorite pre-game fuel,” Olenginski said. “I order the best customized bagel sandwich. It keeps me energized for the whole game.”
Dorfman said he loves having St. Joe’s students around, as customers and as employees, and wishes more students worked for him. In any given year, Dorfman usually has four or five student employees, but this year, he has none.
“I love St. Joe’s students,” Dorfman said. “Let them know the door’s always wide open and that there are jobs available for them here at Delancey Street.”
