Following Fire, Black Seed Bagels in Little Italy is Closed Until Further Notice

The flagship Black Seed Bagels – serving Little Italy for the last five years – was hollowed out by fire early yesterday morning. A computer printout taped to the vestibule confirms the obvious – the specialty bagel joint is closed until further notice.

Still no word on the exact cause of the fire, but firemen onsite yesterday explained that the fire was reportedly in the ductwork in the rear of the building.

Meanwhile, neighbors were quick to point out that Black Seed – co-founded by Noah Bernamoff and Matt Kliegman in 2014 – employs a wood-fired oven with an exhaust system akin to a “fire-breathing dragon.” One resident noted, “Since this store’s opening, the smell of burning wood was at times so strong we thought the place was on fire.”

This original location of Black Seed is at 170 Elizabeth Street, and is survived by four satellites in the East Village (the old De Robertis), the Hudson Eats food court, Madison Square Park, and in Brooklyn.