“When I was younger, I did a lot of work in the food industry at places like Lisa’s Pizza and Pier Fries in Old Orchard Beach. In 1998, I saw a building available for rent, and it was already named “Beach Bagels.” I decided, then, that I wanted to make it my own: And so I did.
I grew up here, so it holds a special place in my heart. When I was a kid, this place had some issues. It felt a little more rough and tumble back then. Not that it was bad, but it’s certainly become a lot more family-oriented over the years. As I've gotten older, I’ve come to appreciate that.
Recently, the pandemic made things pretty difficult. It was a scary time, especially since we’re in the food business. We still haven’t fully recovered, particularly with employment. But luckily, we have a strong following and most people are very understanding and cooperative with our COVID protocols like mask wearing and social distancing. Even the people that come here seasonally have been fantastic about it.
I’m so grateful for my customers and the employees I do have. They’ve been incredibly loyal through the whole thing. I mean, this town is a pretty tight-knit community. We’re not through this yet, but I think we’re definitely turning a corner.
I’ve been doing this for a while now. So long, in fact, I’ve seen children grow up. These kids would come here when they were younger and now I see some come here with kids of their own. It’s really strange but also a really cool experience.
We love the community, and we try our best to give back to others when possible. We’ve donated to local car shows and schools, particularly to the marching band. My daughter grew up here and was in the band, so it’s important to me.
I think people really like the fact we’re open in the winter. A lot of places shut down once summer ends and tourists leave. It’s not a real money maker, but at least it's a bright spot on Old Orchard Street in the middle of winter. I’ve come to appreciate the contrast of busy summers and quiet winters here.
Through it all, our customers are and always will be important to us. We watch each other's backs and help each other out. When something happens with a local family or business, we all come together to help in any way we can. That’s what makes living here so special.”
Congratulations to Beach Bagels on being selected as one of the winners of the Heartbeat of Our Community Award!
