If you have been to Park Place Bagels, there is a good chance that you have been greeted with a “hey, how are you doing?” and a warm smile from the owner, Claudio Iaccarino. Claudio and his wonderful team greet each customer as if they were the only ones there and catch up with each like old friends while they choose fresh bagels, sandwiches, coffee, and an array of other delicious items. Park Place is bustling at peak times, yet the line moves fast, and the team is amazingly efficient.

Claudio started Park Place Bagels 28 years ago. Like most new business, Park Place had a rough start. However, the business started to do well over the next few years, so well, in fact, that in 2009, during a recession, Claudio expanded his original store at 9 Park Place. Soon after that, he opened two other locations, one on Palmer Road in Bronxville and the other in Chester Heights.

Claudio still uses the old-fashioned bagel recipe that he spent three months learning from an established New York baker. He also still employs the two original guys who started with him. The team working for Claudio raves about him as a boss. Claudio’s day starts at 3.30 AM, where he oversees the bagel baking, and he and his team prepare the coffee, bake the muffins, and do everything necessary to get the stores ready for opening at 6 AM.The team bakes 1,700 bagels on weekdays and 2,100 on Saturdays and Sundays. Most days, they sell out before closing at 5:30 PM. Any remaining bagels are given to the Lutheran Church, who distribute them to the homeless every day.