Our Story: Nick and Elyse Oleksak, Co-Owners Bantam Bagels

Nick and Elyse, graduates from Columbia University who spent years in their fast paced jobs in Wall Street Firms, never thought that a bagel company would be the next step. Funny as it sounds, the idea for Bantam Bagels actually came to Nick in a dream. Waking up suddenly, bleary eyed and excited, Nick grabbed his phone and typed in a reminder. The very first batch was baked a day later… and they were delicious. Friends, families, and colleagues went crazy over the tasty morsels. It became clear pretty quickly that this dream was one worth pursuing.

Living in New York City, the epicenter of the culinary world, Nick and Elyse cultivated their passion for great food and bold flavors. Throughout the years, Elyse and Nick spent their free time tasting all kinds of authentic cuisine, attending food and wine classes, and spending countless hours testing out favorites in their own kitchen in Brooklyn.

In addition to the city itself, Nick and Elyse attribute their passion for food to their roots, both drawing back to generations of cooking and baking. Elyse’s Grandfather came from a long line of Jewish bakers in Brighton Beach, while Nick developed his love for cooking during the hours spent as a kid helping out his Italian Grandmother, Grandma JoJo, in the kitchen.

Ultimately, it was their shared passion for food combined with New York City’s melting pot of amazing cuisine that inspired Nick and Elyse to create a new kind of food experience. With Bantam Bagels, Nick and Elyse are thrilled to take one of their favorites, the iconic New York bagel, and serve it up to all bagel lovers and foodies alike in a new and exciting way.