New Bagel Store Brings Taste New Yorkers Swear By To Bucks Co.

HOLLAND, PA — Hungry for a New York City bagel? A newly-opened shop is bringing that taste experience to Bucks County. And yes, they're boiled in New York City water.

Using dough exclusively imported from New York City, the new Liam’s Market and Bagels on Buck Road in Northampton Township has brought the taste New Yorkers swear by to the Pennsylvania burbs, capturing all the goodness and taste of an authentic New York bagel.

“You’re eating the same bagel that you would be eating in New York City right here in Bucks County,” said owner Alex Trier, who travels to Manhattan once or twice a week to pick up fresh dough from his supplier. “We’re here every morning at 4:30 baking them fresh for the customers,” said Trier of his shop located inside the Pheasant Valley Center in the village of Holland.

Flavor-wise, the New York-style bagel shop offers a core selection of bagels, including plain, sesame, everything, egg, and cinnamon raisin.

The new shop inside the Pheasant Valley Center at 295 Buck Road in Holland. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

On the weekend, the menu expands to include pumpernickel, whole wheat and rainbow. They also sell flagels, a flattened out bagel that is easily be made into a sandwich.

“The kids really love the rainbow bagels. On the weekend, they come in and it’s a top seller,” said Trier. “They kind of taste like an egg bagel, but they don’t use any additives, food coloring, or dyes. It’s all natural.”

In a sea of bagel shops, what sets Liam's apart from others is the dough, said Trier.

“We’re bringing the dough in from New York and you’re eating a true New York bagel here in Bucks County," he said. "We’re making them fresh here every morning just like everyone else, but we’re using dough made in New York City. Everyone says the New York water is the key. Come try it for yourself. They are really good bagels.”

To complement its bagels, Liam’s makes its own cream cheese spreads, including regular, veggie, scallion, and lox. They also make their own seasonal flavors. Right now, they are featuring pumpkin spice and maple bacon. At the end of November, they’ll switch over to a new seasonal line for the holidays.

“We’ve created a classic New York bagel shop here,” said the Newtown resident who named the shop after his two-year-old son. “We’re selling all your traditional bagel sandwiches - pork roll, egg and cheese; bacon, egg and cheese; and sausage, egg and cheese - as well as offering different spreads, such as whitefish salad, lox, and smoked salmon. We also have omelets for people who don’t want the dough.

“Most importantly, everything we use here is local, fresh, and made here every day," said Trier.

Alex Trier, the owner of the new bagel shop and convenience store. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

The new bagel shop is located inside a minimart, which Trier created for the local community and the traveling public. The shop features all the trappings of a typical convenience store, along with a make-your-own-shake machine, popular with the kids, and a coffee machine that grounds beans into a hot cup of coffee within minutes.

“That sets us apart from other bagel shops that close at 2 p.m.," said Trier. "At our store, we turn the grill off at 2, but we continue to stay open as a local, family community store. If anyone needs ice cream, milk, drinks, snacks, and candy we’re like a mom and pop convenience store for the local community.”

Trier is a Bucks County native, growing up in the Tyler Walk section of Newtown Township and attending Council Rock schools, where he played ice hockey.

After graduating from Council Rock North, he earned a degree in kinesiology from Penn State and worked as a health, gym and special education teacher.

Before leaving teaching to pursue his dream of business ownership, he taught in Council Rock’s Achieve program for special education students.

Through his connections with the Achieve, he’s now reaching out to his former colleagues with an offer to donate bagels to the Star Center for students to sell at their Richboro cafe.

“We’re also hoping to bring students into the shop where they will have the chance to develop lifelong skills,” he said.

Trier opened his first business 13 years ago.

“It’s something I always wanted to do,” he said. “I opened a car wash (Island Car Wash). I’ve done that for 13 years now, down by the Philadelphia Airport. Last year, we were voted one of the top 10 car washes in Philadelphia,” he said.

In September, he opened Liam’s Market and Bagels.

The minimart is open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday. Bagel hours are 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday.