Bethesda Bagels

Bethesda Bagels is a family-owned New York-style bagel chain based in Bethesda, Maryland, serving the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area (the DMV: District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia). The company traces its origins to a weekend trip to Washington, D.C. in the early 1980s, when Steve Fleishman, then working in real estate, noticed the city's lack of good bagels. After apprenticing under New York baker Manny Strugatch, Fleishman and his wife Fran opened the first Bethesda Bagels shop on Bethesda Row in 1982. The shop became a local institution, and over the following decades the couple's four sons joined the business. Expansion accelerated in the 2000s and 2010s, including the opening of a Dupont Circle location in 2011. As of the mid-2020s the chain operates six locations across the DMV region and remains family-owned and operated. The brand's core offering is hand-rolled, kettle-boiled, and baked-fresh-daily bagels, sold alongside house-made cream cheese spreads, breakfast sandwiches, and deli-style fare such as Nova lox. The menu emphasizes traditional New York-style preparation methods and real ingredients, with no shortcuts. Bethesda Bagels positions itself as the DMV's favorite bagel destination, citing more than 40 years of operation, six locations, and over five million bagels baked annually. The company also offers catering and online ordering, including delivery through third-party platforms such as Uber Eats. Bethesda Bagels remains a private, family-owned business with no public listing. Its original Bethesda Row store is described as the oldest original tenant on the street. The chain has won local recognition, including a Best Local Bagel award, and continues to expand within the Washington metropolitan area.

Bethesda Bagels began with a weekend trip to Washington, D.C. in the early 1980s. Steve Fleishman, then working in real estate, was tired of his job and noticed the city's lack of good bagels; a friend at Georgetown dental school confirmed that the bagels in D.C. were awful. In 1981, Fleishman apprenticed nights and weekends under legendary New York baker Manny Strugatch, mastering authentic bagel-making. In 1982, he and his wife Fran opened the first Bethesda Bagels shop on Bethesda Row with a small budget, big dreams, and real New York bagel recipes. At the time, Bethesda Row had a concrete plant and railroad tracks, but the shop quickly became the District's go-to spot for authentic New York-style bagels. During the 1980s, the couple's four sons joined the family business, learning the art of bagel-making from their parents. Through the 1980s and 2000s, Bethesda Bagels established itself as the DMV's breakfast destination of choice, becoming a local institution by the 1990s. In the 2000s, the company won a Best Local Bagel award. In 2011, the Dupont Circle store opened, sparking a new wave of expansion and growth. By the mid-2020s, the chain had grown to six locations and was still growing, while remaining family-owned and continuing to hand-roll bagels daily. The original Bethesda Row store remains in operation and is described as the oldest original tenant on Bethesda Row. The company reports more than 40 years of operation, six beloved locations, and over five million bagels baked annually.

• 2024

  Six locations strong and still growing.

• 2011

  Dupont Circle store opens, sparking expansion.

• 2000

  Wins Best Local Bagel award.

• 1990

  Established as the DMV's breakfast destination of choice.

• 1982

  First Bethesda Bagels shop opens on Bethesda Row.

• 1982

  Becomes DC's go-to spot for authentic NY-style bagels.

• 1981

  Steve Fleishman apprentices under NYC baker Manny Strugatch.

• 1980

  Four sons join the family business.

The DMV's favorite New York-style bagel destination, emphasizing hand-rolled, kettle-boiled, baked-fresh-daily bagels and family ownership since 1982.

• Classic Bagel & Schmear

  Any bagel with choice of house-made cream cheese.

• Nova Lox & Cream Cheese

  Hand-sliced Nova, cream cheese, capers, tomatoes, red onion.

• Egg & Cheese

  Two fresh eggs, choice of cheese on any bagel.

• Breakfast Sandwich

  Eggs, cheese, choice of bacon, ham, or sausage.

1. 1Bethesda Bagels | The best New York style bagels around DC, Maryland, and Virginiabethesdabagels.com
2. 2The Story of Bethesda Bagelsbethesdabagels.com
3. 3Bethesda Bagelswikidata.org