Locally-owned Bagels Etc. celebrates anniversary
BARRINGTON — Tim Gorman can’t believe his business is 20 years old.
He said it seems like just yesterday when he was spending his after-school hours and summers working at his parents’ business, Bagels Etc.
Flash forward two decades and Mr. Gorman remains at the County Road bagel shop happy to celebrate the anniversary of the independent eatery. His parents Tim and Eileen Gorman opened the store while he was a sophomore at Barrington High School. He bought the shop from his parents 10 years ago, shortly after he graduated from Nichols College. His folks have since moved to Florida.
Last week, Mr. Gorman thanked his customers by giving away free cups of coffee.
“We have a very loyal clientele. This is a family oriented business and lots of moms and their kids and regulars come in daily. We are fortunate,” Mr. Gorman said.
The long-time Barrington resident said he loves running the local bagel shop. He said he doesn’t even mind having to wake up early every morning to make the bagels.
“I don’t mind getting up so early. I guess I don’t need much sleep,” he said.
Over the years, the business has had slow spots, he said, especially when County Road was under construction. He noted that the bridge construction has kept people from Warren and Bristol away as well.
“I think the low-carb craze has finally faded,” he added. “One thing some people don’t know is that in addition to bagels, we have wrap sandwiches, soups, salads and we sell Boarshead meat by the pound.”
Mr. Gorman said he is constantly looking for new ideas and has recently added multigrain and Asiago cheese bagels to the menu and bagel bites using the middle of the bagels for bit size treats. His breakfast sandwiches are also customer favorites.
With the opening of Bruegger’s almost directly across the street, he is optimistic that his business will endure.
“Our sign is so small, if people don’t know we are here by now, there is nothing I can do about it. I have always been a supporter of new business in the community. Competition sometimes brings success,” he said.
Very local
Mr. Gorman said most of his employees are local people, and during the summer he employs local high school students who often come back to work at the bagel shop during college breaks or after graduation.
“I have friends with middle school-aged kids who asked if their children can work here in a few years,” he said. “Having high school kids working here, it brings in a lot of their friends. During vacations and days off from school, we are packed with kids.”
Years as a business owner in his hometown have been good for Mr. Gorman in many ways. He said he met his wife Amy 10 years ago when she would come in as a customer. They now have two young sons and live in town. A picture of his sons sits on the counter above the dozens of bagels in the display case.
After all these years, one might think he would be tired of eating bagels, but that is not the case.
“I eat at least one a day, sometimes two. My favorite is the poppy seed bagel,” he said with a smile.
Bagels etc. is a great local business. I hope the rest of Barrington shares my disgust with Brueggers for opening so close by! I have been to some stores in that chain and their bagels are not nearly as good as Bagel's etc.'s.
Maybe if he hired people with equal opportunity (guys or any girl, not just attractive girls), more people would go. Goes to show this is a great business to support! I'm sure Breugger's won't do that.
I personally am looking forward to Bruegger's. I have always felt that the other Bagel place was really not that great. I feel bad for Crazy Corner and the Bristol shop, where I used to go to avoid the Barrington Bagels. I grew up on Bruegger's, lots of choices, boiled and baked real bagels, great toppings, I know everyone that I talk to is really excited about the opening! And yes, that other bagel shop only hires girls who are a bit "trendy" too funny that someone else noticed. Best of luck Bruegger's! I'll be in. Free y-fi too!
at Brueggers, they charge you for each thin slice of cheese. When you ask for lettuce in your bagel, you get one thickness of it....too thin to taste!
It's great for people on a diet, but not for hungry people.
Oh, I think their dough all comes frozen.........
I have not been to the other places, but if anyone makes a REAL bagel using high gluten flour, it would be nice!
I lived in NYC for many years and I have to say, Bagels, Etc. is far more like a NY bagel than Brueggers or Dunkin' Donuts for that matter. One is too skimpy, the other too doughy.
I'm moving to Barrington with my family in January and can't wait to be your next loyal customer!
Paul Doughty
Paul L. Doughty, Ph.D. is Distinguished Service Professor, Emeritus of Anthropology and Latin American Studies at the University of Florida. He was born in Beacon NY and received his BA degree [1952] at Ursinus College [Pennsylvania]. Along with his wife Mary (Polly) he worked for the American Friends Service Committee in Mexico and El Salvador for two and a half years in rural development projects in cooperation with several Mexican and Salvadorian government projects.
Paul returned to the US to study anthropology at the University of Pennsylvania and at Cornell University where he earned his Ph.D. in Anthropology under Allan Holmberg [1963] with minors in Rural Sociology and Conservation. Subsequently he conducted applied research and international development work in Peru, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Guatemala and Mexico dealing with urban growth and migration, land reform and community development, earthquake disaster relief and recovery among other topics.
Paul first became acquainted with the Vicos community in 1960-61 and later visited Vicos many times as Coordinator in Peru for the Cornell Peru Project (1962-64) and in-country director of a 2 year evaluation of the US Peace Corps in Peru in that same period. Since that time he has often revisited Vicos, most recently in 2004.
His other work included being director and senior analyst in the evaluation of US-AID Food for Peace programs in Peru [1983], consultant and analyst for Indigenous Development Programs in Peru (1997) and Ecuador (2003) for the World Bank. He taught at Indiana University [1964-1971] and also directed its Latin American Program before moving to the University of Florida as Chair of the Anthropology department in 1971. He was a founder and later, president of the Latin American Studies Association; president of the Society for Latin American Anthropology; and president of the Association of Senior Anthropologists.
