 SEPTEMBER 3 • 2020 | 41

cover story

No 

Schmear
Coincidence

Nosh

I

f you bake it, they will come. And since its 
grand opening in February, they’
ve been coming 
out in droves to Bubbie’
s Bagels on Front Street 
in Traverse City. 
The bagel shop has been a success story, despite 
Michigan’
s COVID-19 lockdown halting the store’
s 
indoor traffic just weeks after opening. But these 
bagels have proven curb appeal, because curbside 
pick-up is how their loyal and growing number of 
customers continue to pick up an average of 700-
800 bagels a day.
But it’
s the “hole” story behind Bubbie’
s Bagels 
that make this bagel bistro really truly special. The 
key ingredient is the store’
s 29-year old found-
er, Sam Brickman, born and “bread” in West 
Bloomfield to parents Risa and Bruce Brickman. I 
live nearby and the couple graciously dropped off a 
mixed baker’
s dozen of Bubbie’
s Bagels and home-
made scallion cream cheese on my doorstep. 

Grandson turns lessons 
from his baking Bubbie 
into a thriving Traverse 
City bagel business.

ALAN MUSKOVITZ CONTRIBUTING WRITER
PHOTOGRAPHY BY GARY HOWE

Sam Brickman
continued on page 42

