Noah Bernamoff and Matt Kliegman Opening ‘Black Seed’ Bagel Shop at 170 Elizabeth Street

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There is currently an under-the-radar transformation happening on the ground floor of 170 Elizabeth Street. The business here is undergoing a radical shift from boutique to bagels, a switch that comes as somewhat of a surprise in this liquor-saturated neck of the woods. Build-out onsite has been a constant for the last couple months.

Planned for this space is “Black Seed,” an old-school style bagel shop from Mile End’s Noah Bernamoff and Smile’s Matt Kliegman. (Bernamoff is from Montreal, where poppy seeds are nicknamed “black seeds”) Their bagels will be hand-rolled and baked in a wood-burning oven. The baking process will be in view to patrons in the eleven-seat dining area. With that pedigree, we imagine bagels will come at premium price points.

Also expect sandwiches and salads to complement the main menu fare.

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Grub St previously reported that the new location will open by the end of the month, yet that could be wishful thinking. According to the Department of Buildings, construction already ran afoul of the city agency. A stop-work order was levied a couple weeks ago because “duct work in the rear of the building was done outside of approved plans.” A follow-up inspection days later resulted in a partial rescind – work can continue on ground floor and basement, but no duct work on or near the roof.

170 Elizabeth previously hosted the vintage boutique shop called Frock, which was actually a refugee from the Lower East Side scene. It began life at 148 Orchard back in 2004, but relocated to Little Italy a few years later. The reaper came for its due and property in the spring of 2013.