Toronto's newest bagel shop sells out within hours on opening day
A newly-opened bagel shop in Toronto is the undisputed talk of the town after drawing major crowds and selling out within hours on its opening weekend.
There are two different ways that hype — that elusive secret sauce which ensures big business and ample social media coverage — builds. One is a slow, nearly undetected rise, as word-of-mouth and the occasional viral video gradually achieve must-visit status.
The other is instantaneous: a thunderclap. That's exactly what happened at Arthur's Snackette, Toronto's newest bagel shop, over the weekend of April 11 and 12.
Located in a laneway off St. Clair West, the bagel shop doesn't necessarily have the potential of foot traffic on its side, but what it lacks in street-level signage, its founders most certainly make up for in notability.
The shop is something like a Toronto finger of Montreal brunch heavyweight Arthur's Nosh Bar, which, serving a bounty of Jewish classics in the city's stylish Saint-Henri neighbourhood for the past decade, has become nothing short of a local icon.
When it came to opening Arthur's Snackette in Toronto, Arthur's founders, Raegan Steinberg and Alex Cohen, looked no further than one of the leading figures in the local baking industry to bring her vision to life. Thus, she tapped alumna Brodflour co-founder Dara Gallinger to join the team.
Together, the three, along with fourth founder Ari Zuckerbrot, officially launched Arthur's Snackette on Saturday, April 11, and the response from the city was evidence enough that Toronto residents are ready to buy what Arthur's is selling: on day one, the bagels sold out within hours. The next day, the same.
At Arthur's, simplicity is key. The sourdough bagels themselves are the stars of the show, while humble toppings like lox, cream cheese and cucumber, jam, thick slices of juicy tomato with salt and pepper, or good-old-fashioned butter, only sweeten the deal.
If you want to see what all the hype is about for yourself, you'll need to hold on to your seat. At present, Arthur's Snackette is only open on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. until they sell out. Given the shop's immediate ascension to must-try status, though, I'd wager it won't be long before that expands.
Arthur's Snackette is located in the back alley at 684 St. Clair Ave. W.
@arthurssnackette/Instagram
