Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

(Brooklyn, NY, June 26, 2002) - While some neighborhoods seem to have a bagel shop on every corner, others - such as Fort Greene/ Clinton Hill - have had none, until now. Bergen Bagels, known for their popular store on Bergen and Flatbush, is opening a second location on Myrtle Avenue in the Clinton Hill neighborhood. The business was recruited by the Myrtle Avenue Revitalization Project LDC (MARP).

The motivation for attracting the bagel shop stemmed from neighborhood marketing focus groups conducted by Long Island University students in conjunction with MARP last fall, which showed strong demand for a bakery. In response, MARP set out in search of enterprising local bakers to bring to Myrtle Avenue.

One weekend, MARP Executive Director Jennifer Gerend was getting bagels at Bergen Bagels (the nearest bagel shop to Fort Greene) and encouraged the owner to look at Myrtle Avenue. Gerend said, "I knew that fresh bagels would be a hit on Myrtle - they're really something everyone can enjoy."

When the bagel shop owners came to Myrtle Avenue for a visit, MARP showed them available storefronts and communicated the potential for selling bagels on Myrtle Avenue. Luckily, the owners fell in love with a storefront at Hall Street and Myrtle, near Pratt Institute.

During construction, excited residents peaked in to view the progress. A local Pratt Institute art student became involved by painting bagels on the wall inside the store. MARP helped to gather resumes from local people for counter help at the new bagel bakery. Several months later, they're all set to begin baking.

Bergen Bagels on Myrtle will open in style with a ribbon cutting by Councilman James Davis.

Media Advisory: Ribbon cutting at 4p.m. Monday, July 1st at 486 Myrtle Avenue, (corner of Hall St)

Contact:
Jennifer Gerend
Myrtle Avenue Revitalization Project LDC
(718) 230-1689