East Side bagel aficionados will be left with one fewer option this week when the Downer Avenue Einstein Bros. Bagels closes quietly Tuesday afternoon. According to a store manager, the decision was made after the new building owners decided not to renew its lease. The manager said that because of store traffic and other factors, it didn't make sense to operate the store at a higher rent.

The store, 2567 N. Downer Ave., opened in 1996 and in some ways, filled a gap left when Oriental Drugs closed. Even though it was a chain bagel shop, at least a baker's dozen of different East Side regulars could be seen every day at the shop, which serves breakfast and lunch.

However, Tim Gokhman, director of sales and marketing for New Land Enterprises, said the decision to close the shop had nothing to do with the new ownership.

"We haven't even closed on the property yet," he said. "We found out through the current owner, Katz, that they were planning on moving. Einstein's corporate made the decision to close long before we came around."

Gokman said that he couldn't even raise their rent, since they were under a lease. "That store isn't performing, they don't want to stay."

"(We) would have loved to have them stay there and, in fact, made attempts to work with Einstein's corporate to get them to stay," said Gokman.

If you live on the East Side, your next closest Einstein's becomes the Shorewood location, 4301 N. Oakland Ave., or the East Point store, 544 E. Ogden Ave.

Einstein's is owned by New World Restaurant Group, Inc., and has 639 locations nationwide, including Einstein Bros., Noah's New York Bagels, Manhattan Bagel, Chesapeake Bagel Bakery and New World Coffee.

New Land Enterprises, which closes on the property at the end of July, is considering new developments above Starbucks and Harry W. Schwartz, and discussed their ideas at a recent neighborhood meeting. Stay tuned to OnMilwaukee.com for more information about these new proposals.

13 comments about this article. Post a comment / write a review.

Recent Talkbacks ...

Posted by OMCreader on July 21, 2006 at 10:46 a.m. (report)

Re: Andy Tarnoff said: Would you prefer an empty store front or a chain on Downer Avenue ?! You have to be able to embrace change. Most of the non-chain establishments are finding it difficult to pay rent now on the east side / downtown area due to all the condos.

Posted by OMCreader on July 20, 2006 at 12:49 p.m. (report)

Dan said: The Pancake House is more a sit down place compared to Einsteins which I always took stuff to-go as many others did. They should have raised prices some if cash flow was the issue.

Posted by OMCreader on July 20, 2006 at 12:43 p.m. (report)

Dan said: I liked the French Roast Coffee; Coffee Refill (16 oz mug) only $0.95. The bagels were very good. And I thought it had a lot of customers.

Posted by OMCreader on July 17, 2006 at 1:56 p.m. (report)

lex said: Re: curleyboy... are bagels trendy? I get my fill of them at corporate meetings.

Posted by OMCreader on July 16, 2006 at 9:41 a.m. (report)

Tabitha said: Downer Avenue, just like Grand Avenue (AKA THE SHOPS OF) is dead. It's not like the old days...it doesn’t seem like there is a "draw" or a reason to hang out at EITHER venue anymore. And, I agree about the chain issue. Give it up. Now there are so-many empty stores in both areas! I think I'd rather have a chain-almost any chain (and a reason for people coming to shop or eat) than the empty storefront. Maybe another reader will again advocate ad-infinitum for IKEA to check out DOWNER AVE (oups, which is another chain, by the way) to kickstart the area.

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