Lovers of New York style bagels in Clarence and greater Amherst have long felt under-served. That helped explain why before 8 a.m. people were waiting patiently in the parking lot outside the former Paula’s Donuts on Main Street by Harris Hill.
When the door opened, they lined up for their new Saturday morning ritual: fresh bagels at BagelGrounds.
Three siblings who grew up New York bagel fans are giving their neighbors a good reason to get up in the morning. BagelGrounds started selling bagels in October. Now they’re making about 500 a day. The reason people get there early is that they only open three days a week, and sometimes they sell out.
Bagel Jays closing was part of the inspiration for Lauren Stall, who would leave her job as an elementary school teacher to take a shot at a bagel career. Her twin brothers Dan and Dave joined her in the effort, with Dan quitting a manufacturing support job to go all in as well.
“My brothers and I always talked about some sort of cafe, restaurant, or coffee shop since high school,” Lauren Stall said. “But we all kind of went our different ways, and didn’t have something specific to focus on, really.”
Then some bagelmaking test runs got excellent reviews from teacher colleagues. “I finally just took the risk and left,” she said, as did Dan, “to pursue some goals and dreams.”
They took a bagelmaking course together. “We follow the pretty classic New York City style, where we make the dough, shape and roll them, boil them, top them, and bake them,” she said. “That was a lot of research and practice to get it right, and we’re still learning.”
What was it like to look out the BagelGrounds window and see people waiting for you to unlock the door?
“It’s exciting,” she said. “We’re happy that people are excited about a new spot, and that they’re here to support us, and we’re really happy to be here, too. So we really appreciate the support from the community, and we’re excited that people are excited about bagels. Bagels are a very special thing.”
8560 Main St., Clarence, bagelgrounds.com
Hours: 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Sunday. Closed Monday-Thursday.
REVIEW: When my thoughts turn to falafel, hummus with mushrooms, and sesame-seed-speckled chicken schnitzel, I know it’s time for a dose of Falafel Bar. Oded Rauvenpoor’s Levantine menu draws from a broad swath of the Mediterranean and Middle East. But its 22 years of steadfast service to people who appreciate the finer things in life, like freshly ground hummus, have earned Falafel Bar landmark status on the Buffalo restaurant landscape. (Thursday, for patrons.)
GUIDE ON SHELVES: My first book, Four Bites’ Where to Eat in Buffalo 2026 spotlights 195 locally-owned restaurants, bakeries, and food stores that make Buffalo one of the best eating cities, dollar for dollar, in America. ($13.99, 178 pages, 6×4 perfect bound softcover. ISBN: 978-1-970895-00-1.)
Now it’s on sale at:
Read It & Eat Bookshop, 2929 Main St.
Miller’s Thumb Bakery, 258 Highland Parkway, Tonawanda
Mojo Market, 3030 Delaware Ave., Kenmore
Buffalo History Museum, 1 Museum Court
Talking Leaves Books, 951 Elmwood Ave.
Upcoming book signing:
Dec. 18, 6 pm-8 pm Lock City Books, 8 Market St., Lockport, with food by Jessica Dittly.
If you’re interested in having me show up, talk food, and sign books, please email andrew@fourbites.net.
ASK THE CRITIC:
Q: My father’s birthday is coming up. Where can I find him a vegan pie?
– Neil, via text
A: Two places where you can always find a selection of vegan pies are Lexington Coop’s stores at 807 Elmwood Ave. and 1678 Hertel Ave. We’re talking apple, pumpkin in season, and more animal-free pastries, like chocolate peppermint cookies and crunchy peanut butter squares frosted with chocolate.
More reading from Michael Chelus of Nittany Epicurean:
- Andrew told us what we can find at Artigiana in Larkinville [Four Bites]
- The Bloom & Rose Deli has brought back its “Annual Love Letter to Chinese Food” [Buffalo Rising]
- Christa wrote about Buffalo’s canned cocktail boom and described offerings from Southern Tier Distilling Company, Hartman’s Distilling Company and more [Buffalo Spree]
- Christa also told us of five new seasonal signature cocktails from bartenders at The Grange Community Kitchen, Grezi and more [Buffalo Spree]
- Brian’s Buffalo Beer Buzz told us about the Deck the Halls fundraiser at Pizza Plant, new ownership for Windy Brew and more [Buffalo Beer League]
- First Line Brewing has released a new Bills-themed beer [Buffalo Beer League]
- Brian also gave us some boozy gift ideas for the hard-to-shop-for craft beer drinker [Buffalo Beer League]
- Francesca wrote about what it’s like to eat at Restaurant Pearl Morisette [Buffalo News]
- Brett wrote about Dinosaur Bar-B-Que’s new location in Hamburg [Step Out Buffalo]
- STK Steakhouse Niagara Falls is now open inside the Embassy Suites Fallsview in Niagara Falls, Ontario [Buffalo Rising]
- Brian gave us more details about the change of ownership for Windy Brew [Buffalo Beer League]
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