Brick Lane’s Beigel Shop, an iconic East End institution, has closed with an eviction notice slapped onto the door. According to neighbouring shops, bailiffs arrived on Tuesday to close the legendary 24/7 bagel joint.
The high court possession notice was posted on Tuesday with the office and details of solicitors attached, but it was covered up hours later with another poster which told visitors the shop was closed due to “electrical maintenance” and would be reopened soon.
On Wednesday, heavy chains were locked to the front door and post had been redirected to the doughnut shop next door.
Situated two doors down from the other famous bagel stop on Brick Lane, the spot that has closed is known fondly as the “yellow one” - whereas the other shop, Beigel Bake, or “the white one” is still open.
A would-be customer outside the Beigel Shop told the JC, “It’s sad, I love their beigels.”
The sign on the shop door appeared to cover the possession notice and told customers that the shop would be "back before you know it"
The legal notice on the door appears to have been covered up with two signs about electrical maintenance.
This notice was also shared on the Beigel Shop’s social media: “Dear Beigel family, we will be closed for a short period to conduct essential electrical maintenance.
“Stay connected with us on social media for updates and news about our reopening.
“We'll be back before you know it, ready to bake and serve our beigel family with love.”
One distraught customer commented on the Instagram post: “Is the sign under it not true? I really hope so. We’ve often driven up from the Home Counties just to visit you!” Another bagel lover said the closure of the “legendary” store marked the “end of an era.”
The original legal notice which has since been covered up (Photo: Twitter/X)
The Beigel Shop at 155 Brick Lane has professed to be the "original" bagel shop on Brick Lane and is famed for staying open 24 hours a day to bake the chewy dough. The shop claims to have been selling bagels since 1855, but opened in its current site in 1987 when a pair of Israeli brothers bought a preexisting bakery.
The shop sells salt beef bagels, as well as salmon and cream cheese, and recently diversified into viral rainbow bagels. Unlike the ‘white’ shop, it also sells bacon.
The bailiff’s sign is not the first time the shop has been in hot water. Last month, a hygiene survey conducted by environmental health inspectors gave the shop a rating of 2/5, meaning “improvement necessary”. In 2019, the shop was given the lowest possible rating after evidence of cockroaches and mice was found.
Back in 2014, the shop closed when a row between family members escalated into another legal notice pasted onto the shop. The Evening Standard reported a similar “writ of possession” was posted onto the door, however, the shop soon reopened.
Bagel connoisseurs might be aware of an alleged broiges between the Beigel Shop and Beigel Bake, who have a reported rivalry. According to Time Out, the shops are not in competition, but they are actually friendly neighbours and even lend each other flour if the other runs out.
Thirsk Winton solicitors were not able to provide any further information and the JC also reached out to The Original Beigel Shop for comment.
