Utopia Bagels
Dining · 4+ locations · NYC: Whitestone, Long Island City, Murray Hill, Midtown East
A Queens bagel institution, hand-rolled and kettle-boiled since 1981, now spans four NYC shops. Co-founder Scott Spellman still runs it with his son Jesse, who self-financed the Manhattan expansion with two new partners — no outside investors.
The Big Picture
Utopia Bagels has grown from one Whitestone storefront in 1981 to four New York City shops on its own money, with no venture capital, private equity or institutional investor involved. At this size, little labor or environmental record is published to check. It answers to the four co-owners who run it day to day: Scott and Jesse Spellman, and operating partners Angelo and Jimmy Tsoulos.
The Dirty Details
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Explore all diningCompany data last updated September 2026
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