Time to Help Bagel Bin's Sari and David

Bagel Bin of Bernardsville, New Jersey, was regrettably closed last year after thirty years of providing the best natural bagels available as well as a variety of delicious, homemade cream cheeses. What many may not know, is the serendipitous circumstance as to how the Bagel Bin came to be located in downtown Bernardsville but also, the tragic epilogue related to the business’ closure. It’s an ending that has greatly harmed the owners, Sari and David Mazen, not only personally and financially, but literally physically, compounding the poetic injustices—injustices to date, that is.

May we all help and thank Sari and David for their thirty years of service while also reflecting upon the grace that brought them to downtown Bernardsville, their commitment during their three decades there and the undeserved conclusion that they endure today.

Back in 1990, Sari and David wanted to start their own bagel shop to personally witness the fruition of their daily work in comparison to David’s corporate job and his increasing travel away from his family. In the same year, Sari’s parents, Ruth and Gene Levin, knew of their goal and while driving through Bernardsville one day, they had car trouble and seemingly untimely at the moment, had to pull over right in busy downtown. Their car had quit in front of the Palmer Building at 37 Olcott Square! A Coldwell Banker Realtor came to assist, and while they all waited for the tow truck, they exchanged some stories and the Realtor let Ruth and Gene know that a portion of the first floor of the building should be available after some needed renovations. This was the genesis of the Bagel Bins presence in downtown Bernardsville for all to come to enjoy.

From 1992 to 2022, Sari and David rarely took a vacation and worked seven days a week for the first twenty years other than taking Mondays off during the summer. They committed themselves to six and five days a week for the final ten years working into normal retirement. They, along with Ruth and other members of the family, worked tirelessly to fulfill their mission “to serve and to be a strong part of the community while doing something good for others every day.” I, like many, made the drive to downtown Bernardsville regularly for the sole purpose of claiming a fresh and curiously different-shaped bagel. Bagel Bin did not use any preservatives and only natural ingredients, and they did not use something called a “conditioner” in the flour that would also extend flour consumption and also, Bagel Bin used a natural proofing method that also required more time. These steps further demonstrated their mission, their commitment and most anyone, gladly accepted the unconventionally shaped bagel in exchange for the healthy goodness within and from the Mazens. When I moved out of the area, Sari and company were kind enough to periodically ship me my preferred bagel and cream cheese flavors, and I understand that my requests were not unusual. Going to Bagel Bin also afforded me some very pleasant, and entertaining interaction with Ruth and Sari, and I have missed that also.

In 2020 and now in their 60s and 70s respectively, Sari and David were looking at retirement, and to do so they needed to sell the business, methods, recipes, etc. In 2021, they found a buyer, and as a part of that sale, they were both going to stay on for the first four months in order for the new owner to have everything right and to ensure the community would continue to receive the best bagels and sundries available. Their retirement struggles started in the beginning of 2022 when—before they had finalized the sale of the business—they learned the building owner planned to “redevelop” the property and would not renew their lease.

https://www.bhscrimson.com/7664/news/bernardsville-bagel-bin-closes-business/

They notified the intended new owner who conveyed he was not interested if he could not continue the business on Olcott Square during his start-up years. Sari and David’s retirement security was quickly disappearing as they were of the age that finding a new location and starting again was not feasible. Trying to recover some monies from their investments, the Mazen’s found a supposed buyer for much of the bagel shop’s equipment but they took the equipment without providing any compensation. To compound the undeserved tragic ending to their thirty years, on their final day of business on November 27, 2022, David fell, gravely injuring himself and requiring hospitalization. He completed the extent of physical therapy just weeks ago. Sadly ironic, David’s injuries from his final day are permanent, and they would prevent him from being able to do the physical work of creating bagels today.

Please join others in thanking Sari and David for their thirty years of service and loyalty in “undeveloped” downtown Bernardsville. Help them fill the retirement security they deserve and that was measurably lost when the intended sale of Bagel Bin fell through. Let’s help Sari and David after their thirty years of commitment to us and by doing so, change some of their ending narrative to one of many thanks and gratitude.