OHIO CITY, Ohio—On any given morning, the line at the Cleveland Bagel Company can easily be out the door, as customers wait to get what many say is the “Best Bagel in Cleveland.” 

• Cleveland Bagel Company makes between 900-2,000 bagels a day
• Their fresh-made bagel can be paired with their original schmears or sandwiched around bacon, egg and cheese
• They have two locations, in Ohio City and midtown, and say there’s potential to grow.

Erika Jaenke is the general manager at the Cleveland Bagel Company. 

“It’s a product that’s unique to Cleveland,” said Jaenke. “I think people really like the fact that it was just started by humans who have faces and show those faces and are interacting with their community.” 

Today, Cleveland Bagel whips up anywhere between 900 and 2,000 bagels every day, but Jaenke says they have humble beginnings.

“It was super small, it was two guys and they were maybe making maybe two or three dozen bagels at a time, taking them to Gordon Square Market or other small markets and then people were gaining interest in their product,” said Jaenke.

Just like their schmears— word spread.

And they started selling their bagels in cafes and acquired small whole sale accounts. 

Three years ago, they set up shop in Ohio City. 

“We started just doing bagels and schmears in the café, and then within the following year, we were doing sandwiches, and now we have a full sandwich menu, lots of drink options… it’s like turned from a baby to a full-grown adult and now we have a second location in midtown also,” said Jaenke. 

Jaenke says it’s about the basics.  Start with a delicious bagel—and the rest will follow. 

“It’s for the crunchy outside malty-ness of like a really nice bagel, and the inside is nice and light, but bready, and then we make all of these cream cheeses that are delicious,” said Jaenke. 

They have two locations and say there’s potential to grow.

“I think that there is certainly opportunity for that,” said Jaenke. “We don’t have any solid plans at the moment. We’re still trying to settle out. It’s a lot to double a staff and everything, so it’s going great and we’re super happy, but we’re like, let’s just go at the right pace.”