Hunter's Bagels opened Monday, Oct. 12, at 19905 W. Catawba Ave. in Cornelius. Brothers-in-law Brandon Kurz and Andrew Roth filled the former Coffee Republic & Bakery space with a scratch-made bagel and deli concept built on a 60-year-old Brooklyn family recipe.
Kurz and Roth relocated from South Florida after Kurz sold his custom golf cart dealership. The pair tossed around ideas for a bar and grill and a deli before landing on bagels, Cornelius Today first reported.
"I went to a lot of the bagel places. I looked at Andrew and said, 'They don't have a good bagel here,'" Kurz told Cornelius Today. "We said, 'Let's open a bagel store.'"
Both owners call themselves second-generation bagel makers. Roth's parents ran a bagel shop for nearly two decades, and Roth has spent more than a decade in the food industry, according to the shop's website. Kurz's recipe traces back to his family's Brooklyn kitchen.
The duo invested six figures in equipment, including an Empire oven roughly the size of a stand-up shower. There is no microwave on the premises. Kurz's mother handled the interior design, creating a lodge-inspired atmosphere with deer antlers in the logo and menu items named the Hunter, Buck and Doe. The shop is named for Kurz's one-year-old son.
The menu lists 10 bagel varieties, including plain, everything, jalapeño cheddar and Asiago. Schmears include scallion, lox spread and maple bacon.
The lunch counter offers deli sandwiches with turkey, roast beef, salami and ham, plus a turkey club, BLT and Nova lox, according to What Now Charlotte. Baked goods include cookies, muffins and cinnamon rolls.
The owners skipped laptop power outlets on purpose, aiming to recreate the feel of an old-school deli where they plan to work alongside employees behind the counter.
Before opening, Kurz and Roth hosted family members from New York for a taste test. Kurz said the family told them closing their eyes felt like being back in New York City.
Hunter's Bagels is open daily from 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
