If you’ve ever passed by the West End intersection of Kildare and Caldwell in the early morning, there’s no doubt you’ve taken in the toasty mouthwatering smell of Côte Saint Luc bagels wafting in the air. A fixture within the Caldwell Shopping Centre since 2009, Côte Saint Luc Bagel is a family business owned and managed by baker and entrepreneur Seth Eliahoo. Eliahoo is ever-present in his shop, greeting customers like old friends and creating an atmosphere that is as warm, sweet, and familiar as his baked goods.
“A Kosher bagel shop was definitely missing in the heart of the Jewish Community”, said Eliahoo. “I pride myself in establishing a personal connection with all my clientele and remembering the orders of all my regulars.”
With a crisp outside and soft chewy inside the shops flagship product is arguably better than its more famous Mile End competitors. A certified Kosher establishment, Eliahoo’s store offers the typical sesame and poppy seed coated Montreal-style fire-cooked bagels but also whole wheat, all-dressed, cinnamon raisin, blueberry, and banana chocolate chip, to name a few of the 20 available flavours. Other best-sellers include cheese bagels, knishes, muffins, loaf cakes, and oatmeal cookies.
On any given Sunday, Cote Saint Luc residence of all walks of life line up patiently along the shopping centre sidewalk and “kibitz” jovially amongst themselves until placing their take-out order. The shop interior only has enough room for less than a handful of customers, so the adjusted “COVID layout” for health and safety doesn’t feel that much different with Eliahoo doing transactions at the door.
City Councillor, Andee Shuster, nominated Côte Saint Luc Bagel as Merchant of the Month for June. “I’ve been a regular customer since Seth opened. I was working at a neighbouring building and would walk over at lunch for a hot sesame bagel or a tuna sandwich,” recalled Shuster. “Our family once did a blind taste test comparing four or five bagel shops from across the Island and Côte Saint Luc Bagel was declared a clear winner.“
Seth Eliahoo was presented the Merchant of the Month Award on June 30th. Côte Saint Luc Bagel can be found at 5757 Caldwell Avenue in Cote Saint Luc.
