Briarcliff Resident to Open Bagel Shop in Katonah

When Ron Koff first tasted Howard Goldberg's bagels in a Westwood, NJ, shop he said he knew immediately he wanted to bring the product to Northern Westchester.

"One bite and I was done," he said on Wednesday in an interview with Patch in the shop at 280 Katonah Ave. where a crew was working on renovating the space.

So Koff, a Briarcliff Manor resident who also owns a New York City-based printing business, partnered with Goldberg to bring his brand to Katonah. They take over the space formerly occupied by the Katonah Bagel Shoppe, which recently closed after 16 years of operations.

The restaurant already looks very different, with new tiles and a flat screen TV mounted on the walls. A handicapped-accessible bathroom and new ovens have been installed. Koff said Goldberg's bagels will have a welcoming atmosphere with music, WiFi and seating for 12.

More importantly, he said, is the bagel recipe.

"We'll be boiling and baking our bagels—a 100-year-old process. And we'll be baking multiple times a day for freshness and quality," said Koff. The shop will also offer bialys, deli items and hot soups. They'll also offer an item trending in the bagel world—"flagels"—or flat bagels.

Asked if he was hiring, Koff said he had already hired a few locals—in fact, he said a childhood connection led to hiring one of his first employees. Koff grew up in New Rochelle next door to Evan Kass, now a Katonah resident and husband of Mary Beth Kass, co-president of Bedford 2020; he interviewed their son and employed him to work in the shop, among other new hires.

Goldberg's will be open in about two weeks, he said; "hopefully by Easter Sunday."

The hours will be Mon. - Sat. from 6 a.m. - 4 p.m. and Sun. 6 a.m. - 2 p.m.

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