Toasted in East Meadow Plans To Spread Bagelry Brand

EAST MEADOW, NY — Promoted in its website’s URL as a maker of “gourmet bagels,” Toasted in East Meadow is the prospective flagship store for a brand that the owners seek to spread far and wide.

Wael Zahran, Abdelrahman Mufit and Omar Salama converted the former Dunkin Donuts, at 2295 Hempstead Tpke., into their first shop that opened in August.

“And it’s not going to be the last; we have a bigger vision to turn it into a chain,” said manager Sherif Marwan, who revealed plans to open other stores from Long Island to Connecticut to Texas, possibly starting in 2022.

Open from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, Toasted makes fresh bagels hourly and has more than 15 varieties that include sunflower seed and blueberry whole wheat, as well as more than a dozen cream cheese spreads ranging from plain to Confetti, Nutella and Oreo.

Breakfast features egg sandwiches including the poetically named “Wakey Wakey Eggs & Bakey” that has three eggs, bacon, turkey sausage and cheese on a flagel. The “Power Wrap” comes with three egg whites, grilled chicken, spinach and mozzarella. Customers with a less adventurous palate can also order steel-cut Irish oatmeal.

Lunch options include everything from Mexican, Greek and California-inspired burgers, to banana, coconut and granola Acai bowls, to traditional Boar’s Head cold cut sandwiches. The “London Fog,” consisting of honey maple turkey with melted Muenster, bacon, lettuce, and tomato on a whole wheat roll, is among the specialty sandwiches. The store also serves paninis, quesadillas, soups and a variety of homemade, chopped and pre-made salads.

“We are looking to add more hot food options for lunch,” said Walid Heikal, another store manager.

The spacious dining area has a half-dozen tables, a long counter, and a large flatscreen TV. So far, steady customers include employees from the neighboring Nassau University Medical Center and students and staff from East Meadow High School.

Marwan said the owners wanted to open their first store near or within a commercial area in central Long Island.

“They were searching for the right place and spot, and a good community with nice people,” he said.