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B I R M I N G H A M
I
f you’re Jewish and were
raised in Metro Detroit,
chances are you’ve grown up
eating a warm, familiar delight
topped with cream cheese, lox
or more. You’ve probably bro-
ken a Yom Kippur fast with the
delicious treat or spent a Sunday
brunch with family not even
needing to ask what you would
be feasting on — a bagel, a New
York Bagel.
This year, Metro Detroit
staple New York Bagel cele-
brates its 100th anniversary, a
legacy passed down and owned
by four generations of the
Goldsmith family.
Howard Goldsmith, 70, the
grandson of Morris and son
of Harvey, currently runs the
business with his son Phil, 39.
Phil is set to take full ownership
and control of the business as
his father eases himself out of
the business, with plans to retire
next year.
While both Howard and Phil
worked at the store growing up,
entering the bagel business full
time was not the initial plan for
either. Fate or not, the Detroit
institution sees its centennial
led by a father and son, with the
generational baton soon to be
handed over once again.
BAGEL BEGINNINGS
New York Bagel began in 1921,
when a New Yorker opened the
first shop on Hastings Street
near Downtown Detroit. In
the 1930s, Morris Goldsmith, a
Russian immigrant who was an
employee since 1923, became
a partner with the original
owner and another immigrant,
William Needelman.
JERRY ZOLYNSKY
Generations of family owners mark
New York Bagel’s 100th anniversary.
44 | SEPTEMBER 9 • 2021
It’s Been a Very
Good Shmear!
DANNY SCHWARTZ STAFF WRITER
Owners Howard
Goldsmith of
Bloomfield Hills
and his son Phil
Goldsmith of
Birmingham.
continued on page 46