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A dough-licious delight!
The “last” bagels from a beloved New York City shop that unexpectedly shuttered this week following an alarming health inspection are now up for auction on eBay – allowing heartbroken customers one last chance to munch on the famous breakfast staple.
The listing offers fans of Absolute Bagels one more chance to scoop up plain, cinnamon raisin and pumpernickel bagels from the Upper West Side staple that opened in the 1990s.
But taking a bite out of a piece of “NYC history” will come at a steep price, as the bidding starts at a whopping $14.99 per bagel.
Bidders can also purchase the trio of bagels for $49.99, according to the online marketplace.
“Being auctioned are some of THE LAST Absolute Bagels ever made,” the seller wrote.
“Unfortunately, Absolute Bagels closed on December 12, 2024, meaning a piece of Upper West Side and NYC history has been lost. Luckily, these bagels, purchased before the health inspection, have been kept frozen, and could be yours!”
The store, located on Broadway between West 107th and 108th streets, was shut down by the city’s Department of Health following a failed inspection that uncovered rat droppings in the food preparation, storage and service areas.
Inspectors, who slapped the eatery with a 67-violation sheet Wednesday, said sugar packets beneath the bagel counter were clearly gnawed on by the pesky critters and rodent’s dead bodies were left to rot in glue traps on top of the walk-in unit.
“We ordered a closure because we found pest and food contamination conditions posing an imminent public health hazard,” the Health Department said.
Absolute Bagels has been consistently rated as one of the best in the city over the last three decades and was especially famed for serving an assortment of offbeat-flavored bagels and schmears such as walnut cream cheese.
The sudden closure shocked loyal customers and foodies — some of whom have made the breakfast joint part of their morning routine throughout its 30-year run.
“I’m honestly going to go home and cry,” Kathryn Swaine, 53, told The Post, noting that she had gotten an everything bagel with plain cream cheese and tomato from the shop every day.
“It’s the center of this neighborhood…Everyone inside — they feel like family. They’ve literally adopted me as their family. That’s what makes it special. It’s not a big business. They know everyone who comes in there.”
There is no word if the eatery — which temporarily closed in 2013 and 2017 for similar conditions — will reopen. Rafe Evans, who first rented the space to owner Samek Thongkrieng in 1992, was told by the owner to let it go.
As of Saturday night, no bids had been placed on any of the four auctions. The seller is offering free shipping with an estimated delivery date between Dec. 27 and Jan. 3.
The auction is set to expire on Dec. 23.