PASCACK VALLEY AREA, N.J.—While its name is John’s Famous Bagels & Deli Shop, most customers know them better as their favorite bagels—famous or not.
Celebrating more than two decades of providing his famous bagels to Pascack Valley customers, co-owners Aiman “John” Abdelwahed and Hazam “Adam” Megahed are giving back to the community to celebrate 21 years in business by offering a menu of specials and discounts for customers.
Throughout July, customers at John’s three locations are offered 15 coupons for discounts on breakfast sandwiches, bagel weekend specials, all-week bagel discounts, Italian hero specials, and sales on whitefish salad, Nova salmon, cold cuts, as well as 20 percent off on catering.
More than two decades after opening their first store in Park Ridge, Adam said he estimated that making 11,000 bagels per week, 47,000 per month and more than half a million bagels per year—and that’s a conservative estimate—the shop has likely turned out over 12 million bagels.
“That’s a lot of bagels. I didn’t know we made that many,” said Adam.
At three Pascack Valley locations—183 Kinderkamack Road in Park Ridge, 8 Railroad Ave. in Montvale and 94 Broadway in Woodcliff Lake—the bagel stores and delicatessens offers spreads, wraps, salads, grilled items, specialty sandwiches, breakfast sandwiches, bakery selections and a full catering menu.
Adam said bagels are made throughout the day, and everything including spreads, salads, and sandwiches.
Homemade daily, bagels come in various colors annually including red for Valentine’s Day, green for St. Patrick’s Day, orange for Halloween, and the all-inclusive rainbow-colored bagel, available on a daily basis.
Adam said low-carbohydrate and gluten-free bagels are also available for customers.
His favorite: An everything bagel with cream cheese, Nova salmon, onion and tomato.
Adam said on weekends, generally John’s is baking bagels all day in hopes of providing the fresh-out-of-the oven New Jersey favorites to customers who purchase bagels for weekend parties or special occasions.
Over the years, Adam said he’s heard some strange orders.
“A most unusual request to me was someone ordered a tuna bagel with ketchup and another person ordered a tuna bagel with grape jelly,” he said.
Adam said the shop regularly donates free bagels to local community events and organizations.
Find John’s Famous Bagels at www.johnsfamousbagels.net or call the locations directly: Park Ridge, (201) 930-4940; Montvale, (201) 822-8292; or Woodcliff Lake, (201) 746-6257.