Bagel fanatics, music fans, lovers of art and fine food, and media were all in attendance at the official twentieth anniversary celebration of one the most beloved stores in the National Capital, the Ottawa Bagelshop and Deli.

On Thursday, April 29, the Ottawa Bagelshop and Deli celebrated the community the highlights of twenty years of bagel making. From its humble beginnings, the Ottawa Bagelshop and Deli has grown into a unique gathering place at the centre of the Wellington West community. 

More than 35 million bagels have been rolled by hand, all baked in an old-fashioned wood-burning oven. Bagels from the Ottawa Bagelshop and Deli have been enjoyed in every province and territory in Canada, throughout the United States, and in such far-away places as India, Australia, and Africa. 

The Ottawa Bagelshop and Deli now stands as an art gallery, a ‘kibbitzing’ community sanctuary, a coffee shop, a restaurant-bar, a deli with world-class meats and cheeses, a candy store, a bakery, and gourmet food emporium. Seven thousand products from around the world line its shelves, many not otherwise available in Ottawa. 

Ottawa Bagelshop and Deli owner and manager Vincenzo Piazza remembers that first day of business: "When we first opened twenty years ago, the most common reaction was, "What's a bagel?" That reaction has certainly changed, with the Ottawa Bagelshop regularly  voted by readers of XPress magazine as the home of "Ottawa's Favourite Bagel".

The week long celebration began on Monday, April 26, with special events leading up to the festive celebration on Thursday, April 29. From Monday to Thursday, the Ottawa Bagelshop and Deli donated one dollar from every dozen retail bagels sold to the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario. "The community has always embraced the Bagelshop, and we're pleased to support the community by giving a helping hand to CHEO”, Vincenzo explains. 

The Anniversary Celebration on Thursday, April 29 featured face painting, charity fundraising events, live music, door prizes, gourmet food samples, and cooking demonstrations. Many long-time staff members representing Ottawa's multicultural mosaic were also present.