EASTCHESTER, N,Y -- Junhaeng Park migrated to the United States from South Korea in 1991 and. after working many years in his father-in-law's and other delis in Manhattan, decided to go out on his own.
He opened Bagel Park at the popular commercial strip on the corner of Mill and White Plains roads in Eastchester in June.
"A bagel shop is easier to run than a deli grocery," said Park, 48, who lives in the Pelham Parkway section of The Bronx.
At Bagel Park customers can find cold cut sandwiches, special sandwiches, panini, wraps, omelets and, of course, bagels.
Park's initial $300,000 investment allowed him to create a pleasant environment, with varnished tables, orange walls and tiled floors, all kept impeccably clean. Natural light filters through the glassy front, and a famous artist is always performing on the 42-inch TV hanging on the wall.
"Now customers can come and say 'very nice,'" Park said.
To attract them, Park counts not only on having a new place, but even more on his hand rolled bagels, which he said taste much better than machine made ones. He offers them combined with a lot of things, from butter to cream cheese to egg salad to baked salmon.
Ronnie Bradshaw, 24, an employee at the nearby Stop & Shop store, said he goes to Bagel Park every morning.
"Everything is always fresh. They have samples for you to try," he said, a bagel in his hand.
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