It’s a a schmear campaign! Popular NYC bagel shop forced to change name after ex-owner’s legal threats
New Absolute Bagels quietly renamed itself over the weekend. Luiz C. Ribeiro for NY Post
The owners of a newly reopened bagel shop on the Upper West Side say they were forced to change the store’s name after the previous owner threatened legal action.
“The previous owner threatened legal action if we continued to use the name,” Andy Kimm, manager of the reopened shop, told the West Side Spirit. “We wanted to keep the name and continued negotiations, but they were not accepted.”
Despite the change, Kimm said the goal is to preserve the spirit of the longtime neighborhood favorite.
“We want to carry on the tradition and culture of Absolute Bagels,” Kimm said. “Although the name has changed, we will work with our staff to maintain the same taste.”
The original owner, Sam Thongkrieng, operated the shop for roughly 30 years before it was shut down by the city’s Health Department in December.
According to Rafe Evans, the broker who handled the sale, Thongkrieng initially appeared comfortable with handing over both the business and the name.
“He didn’t seem to care at first, but maybe he had a change of heart,” Evans told The New York Post, adding that Thongkrieng has since moved to Thailand. “He was always a bit of a surly fellow.”
Kyung Mi Kim reopened the location in the spring under the name New Absolute Bagels, assuring neighborhood residents that the beloved shop would remain largely the same. Over its three-decade run, the business had frequently appeared on lists highlighting the best bagels in New York City.
The new owners made only minor cosmetic updates to the interior. Some customers also expressed hope that the shop would be run more cleanly than under its previous management.
During an inspection last year, health officials issued the shop a 67-point violation report.
Inspectors reported finding rat droppings in food preparation, storage, and service areas. Sugar packets stored beneath the bagel counter had also been gnawed by rodents.
Officials said the situation was even worse behind the scenes, with dead rodents left in glue traps on top of a walk-in refrigeration unit. Health inspectors also found issues with food storage, including smoked salmon that had been contaminated by condensation dripping from the display case.
Because of the severity of the violations, the Health Department ordered the shop to close immediately. Although Thongkrieng had the opportunity to correct the issues and reopen, he ultimately decided to shut down the business instead.
Evans and the building’s landlord had hoped another bagel shop would take over the space and were pleased when Kim proposed continuing the store’s bagel tradition.
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