Every January 15th, bagel enthusiasts across America celebrate National Bagel Day, honoring this beloved ring-shaped bread that has become a breakfast staple. This annual celebration brings bagel lovers, bakers, and food enthusiasts to appreciate this chewy delight’s rich heritage and delectable varieties.
The significance of National Bagel Day extends beyond just enjoying a morning treat. Notably, this celebration pays homage to a bread that has maintained its authentic preparation method for over 600 years. In 2025, the celebration holds special meaning as bagel consumption continues to rise, with 2-10 million bagels sold daily.
The origins of National Bagel Day are a bit unclear. Experts trace the first National Bagel Day to sometime in the early 2000s. Interestingly, while New York City boasts about 500 specialty bagel shops across its five boroughs, the celebration of National Bagel Day has spread far beyond the Big Apple. For example, Western Bagel holds down the celebrations on the West Coast. In 1947, Western Bagel came to Los Angeles as the first bagel shop. Since then, we’ve brought celebrations of our beloved National Bagel Day to the West Coast in our retail locations and online at westernbagel.com.
The modern celebration of National Bagel Day includes various activities including special promotions at local bagel shops, fun interactive bagel-making demonstrations, social media promotions and challenges, and exclusive deals! Additionally, this day highlights the evolution of bagel culture. While traditional favorites like lox and cream cheese remain popular, contemporary offerings include everything from pizza bagels to gourmet sandwich combinations. The “everything” bagel, which combines multiple toppings, has become so popular that it’s spawned its own category of flavored products, such as our Western Bagel Everything Topping that is available to purchase for $6 on westernbagel.com or in any of our retail locations.
Recently, National Bagel Day has gained momentum as social media platforms showcase innovative bagel creations. Food enthusiasts share their favorite combinations, local bagel shop recommendations, and homemade bagel-making attempts, creating a virtual celebration that extends beyond geographical boundaries.
The day also serves as a reminder of the bagel’s journey from a niche ethnic food to a mainstream breakfast staple. This transformation was accelerated by innovations like frozen bagels in the 1960s, making them accessible nationwide. Today, bagels are found everywhere from artisanal bakeries to convenience stores, demonstrating their universal appeal.
This year, Western Bagel has two promotions available for National Bagel Day. From January 13, 2025-January 19, 2025, 6 Bagels and 1 Small Cream Cheese is only $12 at any of our retail locations. Specialty bagels are not included, Lox Cream Cheese is not included, and sales tax and upcharges may apply. Furthermore, if you are a Western Bagel lover outside of the LA area, enjoy 15% off our ENTIRE website, westernbagel.com with the code “BAGELDAY2025”. This offer is valid on 1/15/25 ONLY and excludes merchandise.
Western Bagel Baking Corporation
7814 Sepulveda Blvd., Van Nuys, CA 91405
