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

DONNA ROVINS - MEDIANEWS GROUP Barrister’s Bagel Co, has opened a second location — in the High Street Terminal, 300 E. High St. in Pottstown. In this photo are Geri Zaccaria, co-owner, left, and employee Rachel Arnott, right, at the Pottstown location.