Much-awaited bagel store opens its doors

Long lines graced the grand opening of the Izzy and Joe's delicatessen on 40th Street. Izzy and Zoe's delicatessen was as stuffed as its sandwiches at its opening yesterday. Students, University staff and community residents have yearned for another bagel shop since Penn's last bagel store, University Bagels, closed in 1998. Yesterday, they crowded the new 1,550-square-foot establishment for breakfast, lunch and dinner. "Since we opened the doors, there's been a line," said owner Elissa Rivkind's husband Jon, who started operations at 7 a.m. The new bagel shop occupies the space formerly held by My Favorite Muffin on 40th Street. Employees handed out free hats, shirts and mugs to customers. The store's opening was delayed several weeks because of construction. Izzy and Zoe's menu offers sandwiches, soups, salads and traditional Jewish specialties -- along with all-day breakfast -- from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m. on weekdays and until 3 a.m. on the weekends. The bagel shop also delivers for a $10 minimum charge. While the restaurant anticipated crowds, it was not fully prepared for the influx, according to Rivkind, who owns the Fairmount Bagel Institute in Center City. "The phones rang all week, asking if we were open," he said. "We're just overwhelmed." Rivkind added that "first-day jitters" contributed to the wait, saying he is already planning to add a second register for faster line movement. At around 8 p.m. last night, the delicatessen was forced to shut its doors early when the bread supply dwindled, according to Rivkind. "Closing because we run out of food is a good thing," he said, adding that the bagel shop is already preparing for tomorrow. "It will be fixed." Those who stayed in line said the food, friendliness and atmosphere made up for the time inconvenience. "It stood up to my standards," said College senior Debbi Bauml, who worked in a New Jersey kosher delicatessen for 2 1/2 years and skipped class to taste this bagel store's selections. "It was great." During lunch, College junior Jaime Herman said her sesame bagel with cream cheese and tomato was worth the 40-minute wait. While Jackson 5 music played in the background, students praised the pickle-packed establishment's decor, with green vegetables both in barrels and on walls, which were adorned by phrases like, "One cannot live on coffee alone, have a bagel." First-year Law student Paul Kim said he liked the restaurant's set-up, complete with pickle-shaped tables, but felt the average specialty sandwich price of $6 or $7 was a bit pricey. "They are a little high," said Kwang Kim, also a first-year Law student. Some potential customers walked away without purchasing because of the line. "It was the first day," Marsha Allen said on her lunch break with a co-worker from the Dental School. "We'll come back again." Others were more frustrated. "We were in there for 15 minutes," College senior Kate Heuisler said after leaving the line. "We are going to the Mexicali truck." Izzy and Zoe's owners said they were tired, yet satisfied, after yesterday's rush. "As long as the food's good, we're happy," Rivkind said. In March, diners will be able to sit outside on 60 degree days -- like yesterday -- when Izzy and Zoe's installs tables for an outdoor cafZ, according to Rivkind, whose daughter and grandfather serve as the store's namesakes. Yesterday's opening marks the first of Hamilton Village's upcoming arrivals. Bitar's Restaurant, serving Middle Eastern cuisine, will fill the site next door -- formerly home to Cool Peppers Mexican Grill -- by the end of March. Penn officials have predicted that developments like the neighboring Sundance Cinemas complex and the Freshgrocer.com specialty food market will make the 40th Street corridor a lively commercial zone.

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