Bagel shop to open in space at CTA terminal

by BRIAN NADIG

A bagel shop will open in the Jefferson Park CTA terminal, 4917 N. Milwaukee Ave., in a space where several fast food operations have closed in recent years.

A doughnut shop had operated in the space for several decades, but it closed about 5 years ago. A sandwich shop then opened in the space, but it closed within a few months, followed by a pizzeria that stayed open about a year.

The Chicago Transit Authority recently signed leases with the Bagelers firm to operate coffee and pastry shops at the Jefferson Park Blue Line and Jackson Red Line stops. The 10-year leases have a combined net present value of about $520,000, and they represent the agency’s commitment to eliminate month-to-month rental agreements, according to a statement released by the CTA.

Bagelers started out as a wholesale company 7 years ago, and in 2014 it opened a coffeehouse and Internet cafe at 2461 N. Lincoln Ave.

"We are very excited to bring our Chicago-style bagels to the CTA," owner Jotam Torres, who operates the company with his wife Chelsey, said. "By expanding our business to the CTA Blue and Red lines, we hope to spread our culture and community to new parts of this great city."