38
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
9.30.21
DELI DEVELOPMENT Siegel’s Bagelmania goes big with its new Strip-adjacent location BY C. MOON REED
S
tephen Siegel always loved eating tioneers. A giant bagel sculpture greets at Bagelmania, a beloved hole-inhungry diners in the parking lot, and the the-wall Jewish delicatessen that building’s exterior lists the menu in fun has been delighting locals since sans-serif signage: smoked fish, kosher 1989. But the property developer best dogs, corned beef, cocktails, black & known for Siegel Suites had no desire to white cookies, matzo ball soup and, of buy the restaurant. course, bagels and schmears. Then one Sunday, he went to pay for The interior is a vision of mid-mod his meal and the owners begged him to stylings and old Vegas nostalgia. Diners take over so they could retire. He initially can choose between the 200-seat dining declined, but the idea stuck with him. “I room or the deli counter, which also remember being in the shower that night, includes offerings from Pinkbox Doughlike, ‘It’s such great bagels, maynuts, another local brand owned be I can do something with this,’” by the Siegel Group. SIEGEL’S Siegel says. “I like to fix things Siegel and senior vice presBAGELMANIA and grow things and build things. 252 Convention ident Michael Crandall gave Center Drive, So, here we go again.” the menu an extensive revamp 702-369-3322. He purchased Bagelmania in but left the boiled bagel recipe Daily, 6 a.m.2018 and began reinventing the unchanged. “I think we have the 3:30 p.m. brand, eventually ditching the best bagel on the West Coast,” Sieeastside location near Twain and gel says. In July, Weekly readers Swenson for a bigger building voted Bagelmania Best Breakfast between the Strip and the Las Vegas Spot in its annual Best of Vegas issue. Convention Center. (A satellite spot also Following in the tradition of the best opened at McCarran Airport’s A gates.) delicatessens, Bagelmania has a purNow known as Siegel’s Bagelmania, posefully expansive menu requiring the main 10,000-square-foot eatery in multiple visits to sample even a portion the former Somerset Shopping Center of the options. The rye bread, cookies, is drawing tourists, locals and convenpastries and salads are all made in-house. First-timers might consider starting simply, with one of the indulgent bagelwiches ($10-$16). The Hebrew School ($16) includes Nova smoked salmon, fried eggs and a hash brown cake. Or they could opt for a classic hot pastrami, egg salad, or whitefish salad sandwich ($12-$16). Burgers, hot dogs, soups, salads, shakes and more round out the menu. In addition to a full bar, Bagelmania just opened up gaming. There are plans to slowly increase the hours to include dinner and possibly late night. And busy as Siegel might be taking Pinkbox national, he says he hopes to open a couple more Bagelmania locations next year.
