Tompkins Square Bagels is celebrating its 10th anniversary late this month at 165 Avenue A between 10th Street and 11th Street.
The shop had its soft opening here on Dec. 16, 2011. (The outpost at 184 Second Ave. between 11th Street and 12th Street debuted in November 2016.)
Congratulations to owner Christopher Pugliese and the staff at both locations.
It hasn't been easy these past two years.
In November 2020, ConEd shut off the gas at the Avenue A location. (Service returned on Dec. 31.) At the time, a carbon monoxide sensor went off related to the storefront's hot water heater, and workers discovered a hole in the flue that brings in replacement air.
Because of the hole, replacement air wasn't getting into the basement, thus the high carbon monoxide reading, Pugliese said at the time. However, despite identifying the problem and quickly repairing it, ConEd shut off the gas to the business.
To keep the shop running, Pugliese, who helped feed unhoused residents and essential front-line workers during the pandemic's worst days in the spring of 2020, spent $7,000 to buy three electric grills and have three 220-volt power lines installed so his team could cook.
You can read more about how TSB overcame all this here.
