Today we’d like to introduce you to Revi Menasche.
Revi, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My husband Alan, and daughter Leya, and I had just relocated from Fort Lauderdale, FL to Rockwall, TX. In the short time we were in Texas, we had made so many wonderful Rockwallian friends, but longed for more of a connection to her Jewish heritage. We were told Rockwall had no Jews, but around Hanukkah I noticed that the stores carried Hanukkah decor so I knew I was not alone in Rockwall.
So, I went on Facebook and started my new group called Jews of Rockwall County within days I got over 30 members. I was so excited about it and was longing to meet my new friends and follow Jews I decided to invite them to my home for a meet and greet. I didn’t know what to feed my new friends at this meet and great and thought bagel would be great. I went on a search for a good bagel in my area, I was not happy about what I found. So, I decided to make a batch for my family and see what they thought. I posted my pics of the bagels on the Facebook group called the Rockwallian and it went crazy. I got over 650 likes within a few hours of the post. People of the community kept asking me if I would sell them. I didn’t know what to do, I know I had something there but I was an insurance agent before this. I spoke to my husband and I said I will do it one day a week starting Feb 2. The orders came in and the support from the community was amazing. Within days I realized I will not be selling insurance anymore. I became The Bagel Lady of Rockwall. That name was even to me by the Rockwaillians. Word of mouth spread quickly, that there was someone making fresh, traditionally boiled and baked bagels in Texas— and everyone wanted a bite!
Soon, restaurants like Rockwall favorite, Wells Cattle Co, began placing small orders for bagels, and the reviews rolled in. People loved the Bagels and I was blown away by the amount of people reaching out for bags of bagels, and that’s when I decided to take The Bagel Lady Rockwall to the next level. I will be opening a location this July and I couldn’t be happier. I use traditional Jewish methods of baking and offer both classic flavors like sesame, everything, and poppy seed, as well as creative flavors such as asiago jalapeño, blueberry, and chocolate chip. Here at The Bagel Lady Rockwall, we believe bagels bring people together.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The road has been smooth, because the community has been so supportive of this venture. The challenges I’ve had is the size of my kitchen, not having or able to use commercial equipment as this is a home-based business. Now the new challenge has been Covid-19, before the virus I was meeting and taking selfies with my clients. I looked forward to meeting them and getting to know them. The virus has changed all that. Now I do porch pick up and I feel a disconnect to my client and my community. I’m hoping things get better soon, so I have an opportunity to see my clients again.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the The Bagel Lady story. Tell us more about the business.
My business focus is about the bagel, my saying is “It’s all about the bagel” I make water boiled hand rolled NY style bagels. The making of bagels have changed though the years, but I took it back to the way I remember how bagels should be made and taste. I feel that’s what is going to set me apart from any other bagel shop around the area. This is not a big box store bagel; it eats like a NY Bagel. The store I will open will be all around the bagel, with not only bagels, but I will have bagel dogs and bagel bowl to name a few things I will have. It will feel like a NY bagel shop, with smears and salads.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
My luck with this business has been great and I feel very lucky to have been able to create this business in Rockwall. I don’t think if I started this business anywhere else, I would have been so lucky. This community and the people I have around me make a luck Bagel Lady.
Pricing:
- Bagels are $15 a dozen (Plain, Everything, Sesame, Salt, Poppy, Onion, Garlic, Cinn/Raisin, Choc/Chip, Asiago/Jalapeno)
- $10 for half dozen / $20 a dozen for Blueberry Bagels
- $21 for half dozen Bagel Dogs/ $36 for a dozen Bagel Dogs
Contact Info:
- Website: thebagellady.com
- Phone: 754-204-3659
- Email: thebagellady@yahoo.com
- Instagram: thebagelladyrockwall
- Facebook: thebagelladyrockwall
Image Credit:
KoiKoi Photography
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