BILLY TARNOL

FOUNDER

Billy is a long-time Angeleno, moving with his family of 5 brothers and sisters from Detroit in 19XX.

He attended Fairfax High School, graduated in 1955 and worked with his two brothers at Jon and Pete’s Liquor Store on La Cienega Avenue, selling newspapers at the closest intersections, making just enough money to watch baseball games in Pan Pacific Park.

The Bagel Broker was founded in 1987 by Bill and has been family owned and operated ever since!

JASON TARNOL

OWNER

When Billy started the Bagel Broker back in the 80’s, his son Jason was a high school student at Grant High in Sherman Oaks.

Needing a job for the summer, Jason started working at the shop alongside his dad at the age of 16.

After graduation, Jason began his college career at UCLA, but quickly realized that rather than studying how to run a successful business in Los Angeles, he should work at the Bagel Broker full time! Jason learned everything he knows today from his dad and best friend, Billy.

He continues the most important traditions of the bagel shop from its beginnings, of course, with EVERYTHING freshly prepared every day!

In the 1990’s when coffee shops started popping up all over town Jason’s vision was critical in the survival of the Bagel Broker.

He realized the morning stop for so many revolved around getting coffee and that a bagel stop was moved to a weekend luxury when time was afforded.

In order to grow sales Jason got proactive and decided that if customers were going to stop for coffee and forgo an additional bagel stop, he would bring bagels to them.

Before the days of the internet this meant going door to door, building to building dropping off bagel samples for businesses to try.

This proved to be worth every box of samples Jason gave out and has made catering an essential part of The Bagel Brokers continued success.

BENJAMIN LEVY

OWNER, CHEF

Benjamin was born in Washington D.C. where he graduated from the Sidwell Friends School and then from The University of Wisconsin.

After college, Benjamin moved to San Francisco and attended the California Culinary Academy.

Over the years, Benjamin has worked for notable chefs Charles Phan at The Slanted Door, Wolfgang Puck at Postrio and Joe Jack of Luna Park.

Ben partnered with Jason in 2019 to open a bagel commissary and catering kitchen in Downtown Los Angeles to expand our catering menu and serve a larger part of the Los Angeles community.