Episode 595: The Dough That Keeps Rising: The 53-Year Story of Barry Bagels

In this engaging episode, Wil B chats with Mark Greenblatt, President of Barry Bagels, and Jim Nussbaum, CEO. They share the remarkable 53-year journey of Barry Bagels, from its founding by Mark’s father in 1972 to its expansion to 84 total stores (open or under development) across five states. Mark and Jim delve into the evolution of the brand’s identity, its strategic franchising model, and the values-driven leadership that has fostered exceptional employee retention and customer loyalty. The conversation covers everything from bagel baking methods to the principles that make successful franchisees, painting a picture of a company deeply committed to long-term partnerships, fresh food, and a humble, hands-on culture.

Legacy of Longevity: Barry Bagels was founded in 1972 by Barry Greenblatt and has thrived for over five decades through a combination of strong values, adaptability, and high-quality food.

Franchise Growth: Since starting to franchise in 2012–2014, Barry Bagels has grown to 20 locations with 64 more in development, all driven organically through word-of-mouth, former employees, and brand fans.

Multi-Revenue Model: The brand thrives on three primary revenue streams: retail, catering (funerals, corporate, pharmaceutical reps), and wholesale (universities, hospitals, coffee shops).

Quality + Freshness: Bagels are boiled and baked fresh all day long, with small batch production ensuring optimal texture and warmth—a differentiator among national competitors.

Strategic Expansion: The team uses an “80% concentric, 20% opportunistic” expansion strategy, favoring growth near existing stores but making exceptions for the right franchisee in the right market (e.g., Dallas).

Franchisee Fit is Key: Owner-operators are preferred. Candidates must be willing to roll up their sleeves; absentee ownership is discouraged.

No Ego Leadership: Both Barry and Mark modeled servant leadership, doing every job from mopping floors to serving customers, building a culture of humility and loyalty.

Unusually Low Turnover: The company boasts decades-long employee tenures, credited to culture, shared values, and a leadership style based on mutual respect and shared effort.

Careful Vetting: Potential franchisees are assessed beyond the business plan—personality, values, and how they treat people matter deeply to the team.

Supply Chain Simplicity: Raw frozen dough is distributed via Gordon Food Service, allowing consistent quality control while supporting national growth.

Optimism for the Future: With new markets like Florida and Texas on the horizon,, the future looks bright and bagel-filled.