The Brobagel Story
New York-style bagels from the Jacobs family, baked in Chicago since 1983.
From New Haven to Chicago
Andy, Bill, Pete and Steve Jacobs grew up around New Haven, where a bagel was boiled, hand-dipped and baked the old way. Fresh out of college, the four brothers moved to Chicago to bring that bagel with them, and on October 4, 1983 they opened The Bagel Bakery at 50 E. Chicago Ave.
Jacobs Bros. Bagels
In July 1986 the brothers opened a shop in the Monadnock Building and changed the name to Jacobs Bros. Bagels. Jacobs Bros. grew into a 20-location bagel chain. The brothers sold the business in 1999, and the last Jacobs Bros. shop closed around 2004.
Brobagel, 2014
Bill went on to open Piece Brewery & Pizzeria on North Avenue in Wicker Park, with the love and support of his brothers and family. But he never stopped missing those bagels. In 2014 the storefront next door to Piece opened up, and he saw the chance to bring the brothers’ bagels back. Brobagel opened on August 14, 2014 at 1931 W. North Ave, using the original Jacobs Bros. recipes and methods. The name is a throwback to Jacobs Bros.
“We loved the product, we loved what we used to do and there’s a demand for it in this market.”
Bill Jacobs, Eater Chicago, 2014
How We Bake
We still bake bagels the traditional, painstaking way. Each one is boiled in water first, hand-dipped in seeds, baked on redwood planks, and finished on the hearth of our bagel oven. That’s what makes them crunchy on the outside and chewy in the middle.
We bake fresh every morning, all morning, so you’re never far from a warm one. Skip the toaster.
Still in the Neighborhood
It’s still a family affair. Andy and Pete are here in Chicago and pitch in when needed, and Bill still turns to his brothers for advice.
Brobagel is still one shop in Wicker Park, right next door to Piece, and the two still share. The Piece Pizza Bagel is made with Piece’s pizza sauce, and our Cacio e Pepe bagels and cream cheese use aged Pecorino grated from the 50lb wheel at Piece.
In the Press
Visit us at 1931 W. North Ave in Wicker Park, open every day 6:30am–12:30pm.