Fans of Asian-inspired bagels, brace yourselves…
Bagel Day is officially shutting down at the end of May.
In a heartfelt Instagram post shared on May 1st, founders Michelle Cheung and Maureen Lai announced that they’ll be winding down their operations, with May 31st marking their last day of service.
A closing party is also in the works for May 17th, with details to come.
If you remember, we featured Bagel Day last year as we fancied their Asian inspired bagels.
Founded by preschool friends turned entrepreneurs, Michelle and Maureen, Bagel Day launched back in April 2024.
Michelle, known for her cake business during the pandemic, and Maureen, an accountant with a creative baking streak, teamed up for a project that would change their paths.
They found their true calling in bagel-making following their collaboration on a dessert table for a 75-person wedding last summer.
This event sparked the idea to start Bagel Day Bakehouse, inspired by their shared heritage and a desire to innovate within the traditional bagel space.
Bagel Day skyrocketed into the scene with their Bolo Baogel (a bagel meets pineapple bun hybrid), which brought a nostalgic yet refreshing twist to the traditional bagel.
Their lineup grew to include Cocktail Baogels, Jellycat Baogels, and more, often selling out during preorders and popping up at Vancouver Farmers Markets and The Gourmet Warehouse.
Michelle and Maureen shared that this decision was a long time coming.
They first considered it in November 2024 while they were in Hong Kong.
Rising ingredient costs and the physical toll of running a small food business reinforced their desire to step back and explore new opportunities.
Specifically, Michelle wanting to go back to being a designer and Maureen back to the corporate world.
“There’s truly not a moment in the past year where we’re not thinking about Bagel Day,” they wrote, reflecting on 18-hour shifts, 4 a.m. bakes, and lugging 20kg bags of flour to prep for markets.
Despite being exhausted, they expressed deep love for the community they built.
This closure is a tough one, especially for those who added Bagel Day to their foodie itinerary.
But it’s also a reminder of the reality behind the grind, especially in an industry where passion often has to go head-to-head with burnout and slim margins.
While there’s no promise of a comeback, the duo did leave a glimmer of hope:
“Maybe we’ll be back… but hahahahahhhah no guarantees.”
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