The Bagel Hole began as a lifelong dream for Gary and Cathy Trentacosta. With deep New Jersey roots and decades of experience in the food industry, Gary spent more than 30 years in corporate kitchens before retiring—and quickly realizing he wasn’t ready to hang up his apron. When he turned to Cathy and asked, “Shall we open our own bagel shop?” her enthusiastic “Let’s do it!” set their plans in motion.
On June 22, 2020, amid the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, The Bagel Hole opened its doors in Cumming, Georgia. Though many eateries struggled to survive, our community rallied behind us. Masked and distanced, our first customers helped us defy the odds—and our team wore masks for an entire year in solidarity with public health guidelines.
Fast forward to 2025, and we’re thrilled to announce our second location—and the launch of The Bagel Hole franchise program. With two franchise agreements already signed and six more underway, we’re grateful to our loyal fans who’ve made this growth possible. You’ll often find Gary chatting with guests, sharing new recipe samples as warmly as if they were home in his own kitchen—because for him, there’s no greater joy than bringing people together over a perfect, hand-rolled bagel.
