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Chicago and New York and want
Owners Aryeh and Soril
them here," Rabbi Krupnik said. Sharon said that while they con-
He explained that in the past, sider Mr. Mertz's store as corn-
kosher keepers were happy with petition on some level, they feel
pizza consisting of sauce, cheese there is enough of a demand for
and crust; adding mushrooms both stores. So far, they have
was considered taking a walk on been flooded with customers and,
the wild side. Now, the tastes of at one time, had to stop taking
the consumer have broadened, orders for 45 minutes to catch up.
as evidenced by the toppings of-
"We have had a terrific open-
fered at the new pizza carryout: ing," Mrs. Sharon said. "But
pineapple, salmon and tuna, for while so many people have come,
example.
the thing you look for is for the
Bagels Plus, owned by Leo faces to come back three and four
Mertz, is located in the small times."
strip mall near the corner of
Mr. Sharon, who operates sev-
Greenfield and Lincoln in Oak eral pizza stores out of the state,
Park. While bagels are offered at said he looked forward to ex-
Zeman's on a weekly basis, there panding the kosher venture to in-
is no other kosher bagel store in clude doughnuts in the coming
the area, and hasn't been since months.
Detroit Bagel halted supervision
Lakewood Specialty also faces
several years ago to stay open on a new challenger when Benji Sil-
Saturdays.
verstein debuts his version of a
Although the bagels are kosher grocery store in mid-Au-
shipped frozen from Arnie's gust. In addition to dry goods, in-
Bagelicious of New York, which cluding diapers, One Stop Kosher
is under the supervision of Kof- will also feature poultry, fish,
K of New Jersey, the store also bulk candy and baked goods. It
features baked goods made dai- is located in the same mall as
ly on the premises, six flavors of Jerusalem Pizza.
cream cheese and a limited se-
"It will be a Meijer's, but on a
lection of groceries. New items much smaller scale," Mr. Silver-
slated to appear include bagel stein said.
sandwiches and three new fla-
Unlike Mr. Sharon, Mr. Sil-
vors of bagels.
verstein does not see his store as
Despite being the only kosher competition to the Lakewood
bagel shop, business has not store. Instead; he hopes to reach
picked up past a moderate pace out to a diversified Jewish cus-
since the store opened on Memo- tomer base and service the grow-
rial Day.
ing Orthodox community in the
"Business has been fair," Mr. Oak Park-Southfield area.
Mertz said, blaming the slump
"We have to reach out to more
on a lack of advertising. "You'd people in the city and have ser-
think that the opening of the first vices in more places than just
kosher bagel shop in years would one," Mr. Silverstein said, refer-
bring them in."
ring to the strip mall at 10 Mile
Mr. Mertz's other business, and Greenfield roads that hous-
New York Pizza World, which is es a kosher carryout, bakery and
located in the same strip mall as bookstore.
Bagels Plus, is facing competi-
Ari Lerner, the owner of Lake-
tion for the first time: the area's wood Specialty, said he is pre-
second carry-out pizza business, pared for the challenge to his
Jerusalem Pizza, opened last newly remodeled business. The
Wednesday at the corner 10 Mile store, once afflicted by complaints
and Southfield roads. The new about poor selection and stock as
pizzeria carries the same basic well as aloof service, is striving
dairy menu as New York Pizza to change its image in accordance
World but without the extras like with some "constructive criti-
stuffed baked potatoes and falafel cism" customers have offered,
sandwiches.
Mr. Lerner said. ❑

