16 Sep22611 Bagel & Pastry Business of the Year 2022 - Massachusetts An award-winning minority-owned business, Bagels and Beyond makes its 20 types of bagels freshly inhouse, in addition to its own cream cheese, muffins, pastries, and other delights. Recognised within the Food and Drink Awards 2022 for its ability to provide the best quality of breakfast while being known for value, we got in touch with owner, Michael Davis to learn more. Michael Davis has always had a passion for food, having attended the top culinary school, the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY, and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management. Since then, he has acquired extensive industry experience, having worked in Forbes four- and five-star resorts, corporate chain restaurants, mom-and-pop restaurants, BYOB restaurants, Asian tapas, and cocktail bars. He was also a merchant marine prior to leaving and opening his own bagel shop. He has a wife, Chelsea, of 10 years in July 2023 and a three-year-old son named Landon. Now, as owner of Bagels and Beyond, Michael makes the majority of the bagels himself, while joined by a devoted team who help to make everything inhouse, from the dough to rolling them to rising them and baking them. Not only does this freshly-made approach make Bagel and Beyond’s food stand out from the rest, but also the texture and flavours of its bagels. Speaking of his team, Michael says, “My staff know they are the blood of my business.” He elaborates, “I am the heart that keeps everyone moving but they are responsible for all the functions in the daily operation. I treat my staff like family as long as you’re willing to show up, work hard, commit to the best quality, and do it with a laugh and smile. “We try to do dinners or events together once or twice a year. For instance, we took all the summer staff out for a lovely seafood dinner or took the year-round staff to indoor go-kart racing and dinner.” In peak season, Bagels and Beyond now earns close to $18k a week, having grown year on year in sales since it was stablished by Michael five years ago, while also expanding its wholesaling to other businesses. He goes on to say, “We don’t hold our bagels back from anyone. Big, tall, short, small – as long as you pay, our bagels can go home with you.” It hasn’t all been roses for the business, though. Bagels and Beyond is facing the same industry challenges that everyone else is facing: product availability, shipping delays, rising costs, among others. When COVID reared its ugly head, Michael and the team were concerned that it would put an end to Bagels and Beyond – but with resilience, they soldiered on and offered a 100% takeaway service, with Michael saying, “We maintain high standard of quality because I’m not willing to compromise quality just to bring in another low-end product to fill the gap.” The business came out on the other side, and it has since been able to flourish. Michael explains, “COVID proved to us that even though we offer indoor seating, most people are pleased to get our bagels and take them home just the same. My staff all stayed through COVID and they were rewarded for so. Like I said before, it’s a family mentality. We pull each other up and help when needed.” Now, Michael and the team are excitedly looking towards the bright future ahead. Michael gives us an insight into what this entails for Bagels and Beyond: “We are currently in the process of opening another shop in a highly visited town on Cape Cod. This is planned to be in spring/summer 2023.” Company: Bagels and Beyond Contact: Michael Davis Email: [email protected] Website: www.bagelsandbeyondcc.com
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