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Georgetown Bagelry facts for kids

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Georgetown Bagelry
Private
Industry Food and Drink
Founded 1981; 44 years ago (1981) in Bethesda, Maryland, U.S.
Headquarters Bethesda, Maryland
Key people
Mary Beall Adler
Products Bagel,
Other food and drink

Georgetown Bagelry is a famous place that makes delicious bagels! It started way back in 1981 in the Washington, D.C. area. Their first shop was on M Street, but now you can find them in Bethesda, Maryland. For many years, people voted their bagels as the best around. They are known for making special New York–style bagels, which are cooked by boiling the dough.

The Story of Georgetown Bagelry

How It All Began

The person who first started Georgetown Bagelry was Erik Koefoed. He was 27 years old when he decided to open the bagel shop. At that time, in the early 1980s, there were only two other bagel bakeries in the whole Washington D.C. area! Erik wanted to make bagels just like the ones from New York. He learned how to make these special bagels in Ithaca, New York. He spent his days learning to bake and his nights studying music.

Georgetown Bagelry, Bethesda
The Georgetown Bagelry shop in Bethesda, Maryland.

New Ownership and Success

In the late 1980s, the business was having a tough time. That's when Mary Beall Adler took over the bakery in 1991. She moved the shop to River Road, and she has been the owner ever since! Mary helped the business grow a lot. In 2014, Georgetown Bagelry was even featured on Mashable's list of "32 Small Businesses Killing it on Social" because they were so good at using social media. Mary also wrote a book in 2013 about her experiences running the company.

Making New York-Style Bagels

The Boiling Secret

What makes a New York-style bagel so special? It's all about how they are made! The dough for these bagels is prepared the night before. This gives the yeast plenty of time to make the dough rise and get fluffy.

The secret step is boiling! Before baking, the bagels are put into a kettle of boiling water for about 15 to 40 seconds. This quick boil is what gives New York bagels their famous shiny crust and chewy inside. It's a key part of their unique taste and texture!

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