Filling Richmond’s bagel hole

It has been a long time coming, but Richmond is getting another shot at having its own homegrown bagel place. Husband and wife Kevin and Jacqueline Sharman are setting shop in Carytown, and by the end of October they hope to fill the city’s bagel hole with Jaks Bagels & Deli.

This story first appeared on RichmondBizSense.com, Richmond’s leading source for business news.

(From Al Harris)

It has been a long time coming, but Richmond is getting another shot at having its own homegrown bagel place.

Husband and wife Kevin and Jacqueline Sharman are setting shop in Carytown, and by the end of October they hope to fill the city’s bagel hole with Jaks Bagels & Deli.

“We felt like there was a need for good bagels,” said Jacqueline Sharman. “We shopped and shopped for the perfect place until we ended up driving down Cary Street one Sunday and found the pink door.”

For now the space at 3443 W. Cary St. is completely empty, but Sharman said they are starting work soon.

Sharman, an attorney for Pagano & Associates in Sandston, said the venture is being funded by some investors, a bank loan and some of their own capital. Her husband is leaving his job as a transportation director for a construction firm to run the restaurant, while Sharman said she will continue to practice law.

Richmond isn’t exactly known for its bagels. There is Cupertino’s out in Innsbrook, which has gained some buzz around town, and a local shop called Bagel Czar briefly operated a few years ago at 929 W. Grace St. but didn’t last. There was also the homespun chain Lazy Bagel, but that closed, too.

Nonetheless, Sharman said Richmonders are hungry for more bagel options.

“The response we’ve gotten on our website has been outstanding. Go to any Panera at lunch time, and the lines are out the door,” Sharman said.

The Sharmans have been kitchen-testing their bagel recipe since coming upon the idea in February. She knew they had it perfected once her husband couldn’t get enough.

“I love bagels. My husband never had a good bagel and didn’t even like bagels before we developed our own recipes. He has since become a fan,” she said.

In addition to bagels, the shop will serve coffee and sandwiches. They have also leased the upstairs and are planning a catered conference room for business and other group meetings.
BizSense talked with a former bagel entrepreneur back in July. You can read his story here.

Al Harris is a BizSense reporter. Please send news tips to Al@richmondbizsense.com.

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For more information on this, check out previous coverage on West of the Boulevard News.

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