Barrister’s Bagels opens in Pottstown
Shop brings NY style bagels to High Street
POTTSTOWN >> Geri Zaccaria has lived in Phoenixville for about 20 years. That means she has observed first-hand the revitalization of Phoenixville.
She knows revitalization can happen — she has seen it happen.
Zaccaria and her husband Thomas Zaccaria purchased Barrister’s Bagel Co. in Upper Providence in June, looking to infuse new life into the 10-yearold business.
The couple has now opened a second Barrister’s Bagel Co. location in Pottstown, in the High Street Terminal, 300 E. High St., formerly the Pottstown Farmer’s Market.
The Pottstown location occupies an 8-foot by 25-foot space in the High Street Terminal — and specializes in NY style bagels, as well as cream cheese spreads. Zaccaria said Barrister’s Bagel Co.’s new location was open with a limited offering for about six weeks before its grand opening Sept. 14. After starting just with bagels and cream cheese spreads, the offerings have expanded to include breakfast and lunch sandwiches, lox sandwiches and baked goods — including cookies and muffin tops.
Geri Zaccaria has a marketing background, while Thomas Zaccaria’s background is in finance. The couple was looking for a business of their own.
“We looked for about a year, but didn’t find anything we were really passionate about,” Geri Zaccaria said.
Barrister’s was for sale, and a real estate broker brought the opportunity to the couple, and suggested they try the product.
“We checked it out — we bought the bagels and cream cheeses and they were amazing. We fell in love with the product and concept, and thought the opportunities were there,” she said.
After renovations of the Upper Providence location were complete, Zaccaria said she wanted to work on improving the marketing for the bagel shop.
“We were trying to find cost effective ways to market. I looked at other farmers markets around the area and found Pottstown.” She added that she was looking for place she could go, set up a stand and sell some
product.
Zaccaria found that the Pottstown Farmer’s Market wasn’t a “traditional” farmer’s market when she came to see it — learning that the High Street Terminal is more of a food court. She thought the location was a good fit.
“We decided to take the risk but take it slow,” she said. “We didn’t expect to expand so soon, but we thought we needed to jump at the opportunity here in Pottstown.”
She added that once she got to town and started to meet people she learned about efforts to revitalize Pottstown’s downtown, adding that she is excited about the prospects.
“It’s definitely happening. I think the fact that its entrepreneurs and not the government initiating the change, I think it will be successful,” she said. “There is a big group of entrepreneurs that will make it happen. We’re fighters — we’ll get it done.”
The bagels are made at the Upper Providence location, with baking starting somewhere around 2 or 3 a.m., to be ready for the opening of the shops, Zaccaria said.
The bagels are New York style, meaning they are kettle boiled before being baked in Barrister’s Bagel Co.’s oven.
Zaccaria said things have been going well at the Pottstown location, with support from the community and other business owners.
“It has been an amazing experience,” she said.
Rachel Arnott works at both the Pottstown and Upper Providence locations. She agrees that things are going well.
“I like it here, the atmosphere is really nice — it’s laid back,” she said Friday
“It’s definitely happening. I think the fact that its entrepreneurs and not the government initiating the change, I think it will be successful. There is a big group of entrepreneurs that will make it happen. We’re fighters — we’ll get it done.” Geri Zaccaria, co-owner, Barrister’s Bagel Co.
morning. “The people are getting to know us and they like to talk to us. We’re starting to get regulars.”
Barrister’s Bagel Co. is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
For more information visit www.barristersbagels.com or www.facebook.com/barristersbagels/