business SPOTlight

brought to you in partnership with 
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

