Omaha Exploration

The bagel had long been a New York staple when Joel Brezack introduced it to Omaha. Joel was a Brooklyn native who met his future wife, Susan Johnson, while she happened to be visiting The Big Apple.

It wasn’t until after they married and started a family in New York that he noticed that his wife’s hometown in Omaha lacked an authentic bagel shop – or any bagel shop for that matter.

They continued in this endeavor despite being denied a loan from a bank that feared it wouldn’t get its money bank from the specialized equipment used to make bagels should the business venture fail. The equipment was used to shape the bagel before they were boiled to create the thick, shiny crust before they were baked.

Guided by his deep-rooted religious beliefs and a passion for authentic New York bagels, he opened the Bagel Bin at 119th and Pacific Streets in 1977. Not only was it the first bagel shop in Omaha, it was also entirely kosher. He continued to pour everything he had into the business after it opened and often worked 20 hour days.

The small shop at 1215 S 119th Street seated just 21 but got a big break when Abe Baker of Baker’s Supermarkets agreed to sell their bagels. Meanwhile, the retail business started to build a loyal following for its seven varieties of fresh-in house bagels which included garlic, onion, pumpernickel, poppy seed and sesame seed.

Soon the Bagel Bin began making bagels for No Frill’s, Food City and other retailers. By 1985 the business employed 11 people full-time from its 3,300 sq ft facility. Unlike the bagel shops in his hometown, the Bagel Bin sold about 70% of its inventory commercially rather than in-store. By that time they expanded their offerings to 14 including cinnamon raisin, blueberry, poppy seed, caraway seed, everything seeds, egg and whole wheat.

The Bagel Bin dominated the market by producing 10,000 bagels per day while growing to become a wholesaler for 30-35 businesses. As the popularity of the bagel exploded, so did the competition. That includes Arnie’s Bagelicious from Nebraska City, Bagel Bistro, New York Bagel Shop and Bruegger’s, the national chain starting in 1995. Even so, Bagel Bin held its own in Omaha and maintained its loyal following.

After Joel passed away in 2004, Susan along with their sons David and Scott took over the family-owned business. When a fire broke out in 2010, their third son, Glenn, even played a role in rebuilding the interior to give the shop a more modern look. When it reopened months later they had a line out of the door three days in a row.

While the Bagel Bin offers other breakfast and lunch options today, it is still widely recognized as Omaha’s best bagel. Among its accolades are an Omaha World-Herald Omaha Choice Awards first place for bagels in 2024. Best of Omaha for bagels in 2024. Best of the Big O for bagel in The Reader in 2023.

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