- Masses of people waited outside Beigel Bake today over fears it was soon closing
- The huge queue at the Brick Lane bakery forced it to make a whole new batch
- Its rival, known as Beigel Shop, mysteriously shut after a rumoured family issue
Panic-stricken customers flooded into Brick Lane today over fears the iconic street’s last remaining bagel shop was shutting its doors.
The frenzy was sparked after a social media post, which has since been deleted, claimed the popular Beigel Bake shop had sold its last roll.
It turned out to be a false alarm but led to staff at the shop, which bakes 7,000 bagels a day, being forced to bake an extra batch to satisfy demand.
The scare came just weeks after a renowned rival – the Beigel Shop just four doors away – dramatically closed its doors after a reputed 169 years in business.
The rival shop – affectionately known as the ‘yellow one’ because of its distinctive signage – was shuttered amid an alleged family falling out.
Bagel lovers turned up in their masses outside Beigel Bake today over fears it was soon closing
One happy customer with their bagel outside Beigel Bake today after waiting in a long queue that formed over fears the bakery was soon closing
Plans are being drawn up to reopen the Beigel Shop but as the premises remain padlocked, the prospect that no bagels would be on sale in Brick Lane for the first time since 1855 proved too much to bear for food lovers.
One customer told MailOnline: ‘I was so shocked when I heard [Beigel Bake] was closing down that I rushed over so I could have one last salt beef bagel.
‘Thankfully when I got here it was business as usual – although with bigger queues.’
The shop – known as the ‘white one’ because of its signage and famed for never closing its doors because of its round-the-clock opening hours – has become a cherished institution in the street which attracts visitors from around the world.
Scotching the viral rumour a senior member of the family, which has run the ‘white one’ since 1974, told MailOnline: ‘We’re not closing down.
‘There must be some confusion with the place next door.
‘Don’t worry – Brick Lane will still have beigels.’
Beigel Bake also boasts a celebrity clientele with pop stars Madonna and Mariah Carey among its customers while Prince William and wife Kate visited to help out in the wake of the coronavirus crisis.
The Duke and Duchess delighted royal fans with their visit to Beigel Bake in 2020, with local people leaning out of their apartment windows to catch a glimpse of the couple
People watched from the windows above Beigel Bake Brick Lane Bakery as Prince William and Kate visited while wearing face coverings due to the COVID-19 pandemic
The ‘yellow one’ professed to be the oldest bagel shop in Brick Lane and is said to have sold bagels on the site since 1855 when it was founded by Jewish immigrants from Russia.
It’s thought a family dispute broke out following a row with the landlord over rent.
MailOnline revealed plans are being drawn up to get the beloved bakery back in business after a new set of directors were appointed last month.
But with wrangling still taking place behind closed doors it was too much to bear for many as unfounded concerns were raised over the future of the rival Beigel Bake.
Heating engineer Michael Herring, 56, said: ‘I was born and bred round here.
‘These shops have always been here my whole life.
‘I just couldn’t imagine Brick Lane without a bagel shop.
‘I’ve been coming down here since I was a kid. I’ve always used the white one. I couldn’t count how many times I’ve been here.
‘I live out in Essex now but I still come here for the bagels.
‘Brick Lane has changed so much since I was a kid. I hardly recognise the place now.
‘There used to be local shops and tradesmen who would set up here but they’ve all gone. There was a proper market here – they even had a dog market.
‘The bagel shops are the last places still here from the old days. They are part of the establishment now.’
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were cheered as they arrived at the world-famous bakery back in 2020
The Duke and Duchess admitted they had never tried the famous bagels from the store before this special visit fours years ago
The Duke and Duchess appeared in high spirits during the visit to the bakery, with Prince William playfully tossing a piece of dough into the air
Bronte Tuxworth, 28, who works in a nearby vintage clothing shop, said: ‘Both shops were open 24/7 but the nearest one then just closed suddenly.
‘It was open one day and the next day it wasn’t. It’s a bit of a mystery. No-one here is sure what’s going on.
‘It was a very popular place. I think both the bagel shops were family run so it’s sad to see a family business shut down. I hope it’s not the end.
‘People come here at all times of the day and night. It’s a real institution.
‘This part of brick lane is known for its bagel shops and vintage shops. I can’t imagine it any other way.’
University student Amreen Sangha, 21, who stood at the back of the snaking queue, said: ‘It’s such a famous place I saw it on TikTok and thought I’d try it out.
‘I wasn’t expecting there to be such a line here, especially on a week day but I’m going to stick with it.’
Another visitor Rebecca Reed said: ‘We have come up from Surrey.
‘We’re having a day out with the kids during the Easter holidays and made a detour to come here because some of the group I’m with have never tried it.
‘I can’t believe this place would ever close down – it’s too popular.’
Her friend Camelia Garrett, who was tucking into a salt beef bagel, said: ‘I’ve never been here before but my friend reminded me about the bagel place and I just had to come.
‘When I first saw the queue I wasn’t sure but someone said that if there’s a queue that’s a good sign and it was certainly worth the wait.
‘I’m really glad we came. It’s lovely – delicious.’
Another visitor, a former taxi driver called Brian, said: ‘I was a cab driver for 47 years and I’ve been using this place all my life.
‘It was always a pit stop for all London cabbies. It’s a landmark.
‘It’s open 24 hours. You can come here any time of the day or night to get a bite to eat and a coffee.
‘There’s no chance whatsoever that this place will shut – it’s too popular. There would be an outcry.’
The Duchess appeared a natural in the kitchen at the local bakery, and joked that she was having ‘beginner’s luck’ with her technique
The Duchess rewore her £550 pretty red floral gown by Beulah London for the appearance, with the dress featuring a bold white collar
The ‘yellow one’ has remained shut since a High Court writ of possession was posted on the glass front door and dated February 13.
The legal notice warns proceedings for criminal damage and trespass will be launched against anyone attempting to enter the property.
Visitors are urged to contact lawyers representing the landlord for further information.
A source told MailOnline: ‘Everything is being done to open up the shop again.
‘They’re just having family issues and they’re trying to sort themselves out.
‘They had a falling out and this is where we are. They are sorting it out between them.
‘There may be a change of management within the family.’
The registered owner of the shop is Ellis Zelman in documents with Companies House.
Until last September, Beigel Shop Brick Lane Limited was co-owned by Ellis and Ashley Zelman, both 21.
But in September Ashley’s shares were all transferred to Ellis, giving him sole control.
The records show that as the drama unfolded a company set up by two families who run the shop – which had previously been known as Beigels on Wheels – underwent a name change to Yellow Beigel Shop Group Ltd on February 24.
Ellis and Ashley Zelman were appointed directors of the firm in March 2022 when it was operating under its previous name.
While Ellis remains a director, Ashley resigned his position in April last year.
Three new directors were appointed on March 4 including Hayley and Melanie White who have been involved in helping to run the establishment for a number of years.
Hayley had also previously been a director of the Beigel Shop Brick Lane Ltd but resigned own December 2022.
According to Land Registry documents the building appears to be separately owned by Derrick, Darren and Karen Lefcoe who live in Washington, USA and London.
Shortly after the eviction notice was placed on the inside of the door, a replacement sign was taped over it saying the ‘temporary’ closure was due to ‘electrical maintenance work’.
The sign has since been torn down and the shop has remained closed.
Another notice was put up redirecting post to a doughnut shop next door.
But staff there said there had never been an agreement to accept mail and have told postal workers to return letters and packages to the depot.
The sign redirecting mail there has since been taken down.
Court documents show the writ was issued on January 18 after a case was lodged at Clerkenwell and Shoreditch County Court.
The sudden closure and lack of information has upset customers at the shop which boasts of being ‘Britain’s first and best’ bagel bakery.
Brick Lane’s most popular beigel bakeries were once rivals. Now, Beigel Shop has closed until further notice.
It’s meant that ever-growing queues have been forming at the rival Beigel Bake, which is two doors away, and is known as the ‘white one’ because of the different coloured signs above the shops.
Both 24-hour establishments attract tourists from around the world to London’s East End and operate seven days a week – proving hugely popular with late-night revellers for their bakery specialities, which include fillings of salt beef and smoked salmon.
In the wake of the closure customer Mandy Sampson said: ‘We’ve been visiting for longer than I can remember, our children and grandchildren too.
‘It will be such a sad and unnecessary loss if the shop doesn’t reopen.
‘I would appeal to the freeholder to reconsider this piece of our history needs to be preserved.’
Another customer Tracy Adams wrote on the shop’s Instagram page: ‘Please keep us updated. Missing you. Been visiting your shop since I was eight, almost half a century.’
A second customer wrote: ‘Please come back soon. I do not want to stand in the Beigel Bake queue with all the annoying tourists for our bagels.’
MailOnline has approached the family who run the shop and lawyers acting for the landlord for comment.