Shore to Shore: Salisbury Bagel Bakery Cafe celebrates 30 years of serving the Eastern Shore

SALISBURY, Md. — One Salisbury bagel shop has been a local favorite for 30 years. WMDT stopped by to find out what makes the spot so special in the latest edition of Shore to Shore, sponsored by Schell Brothers.

Thirty years in the making, this local favorite is still on a roll. Bagel Bakery Cafe owner Kenny Soni said a close friend owned the business and was ready to retire when Soni decided to enter the bagel business.

“When I visited this place a couple of times, I thought, ‘This is a great opportunity for me.’ There were some very good products, very good clients and great relationships, and that’s why I decided to join,” Soni said.

The business has changed quite a bit since Soni first got involved 30 years ago. He said the internet and social media have changed everything.

“Things like DoorDash and Grubhub and whatnot, Uber Eats, so it’s completely changing. But it is amazing that bagels is, people are getting bagels for more than 200 years. It is one of the most purest foods you can find,” Soni said.

Bagels are made with simple ingredients, including salt, water, flour and sugar. Each one is made using a traditional process that helps give it its signature texture.

“Each bagel is individually boiled into the hot water for a certain time, and that gives the real flavor and the shiny skin and the chewy inside to the bagel,” Soni said.

While the business has stood the test of time, much like the bagels that proof overnight, its flavors have expanded. Options include limited-edition pumpkin, salt and blueberry bagels, among others.

Soni said choosing a favorite can be difficult. “Some days I love pumpernickel. Some days I go with asiago, and all-time favorite is everything bagel,” Soni said.

Whether you prefer a plain bagel with cream cheese, a breakfast sandwich or lox, there is something for everyone. For me, it had to be a crab dip bagel.

Soni said the shop’s menu and sandwiches draw inspiration from communities across the Eastern Shore, including historic Wicomico County and St. Michaels.

“If you see our story and sandwiches, they are from all the over, little something, Historical Wicomico, Saint Michael’s. These are all, Delmarva places or Eastern Shore places and the crab dip bagel also was one of that in that lineage,” Soni said.