Western Bagel

Last updated
Western Bagel
Company typePrivate
IndustryFood manufacturing, retail
Founded1947;78 years ago (1947)
FounderDavid Ustin
Headquarters,
U.S.
Key people
Steve Ustin (President)
Jeff Ustin (Vice President)
Number of employees
350–425
Parent Western Bagel Baking Corporation
Website westernbagel.com

Western Bagel [1] is an American bagel manufacturer, wholesaler, and retail bakery chain based in Los Angeles, California. [2] [3] Operated by Western Bagel Baking Corporation, [4] the company was founded in 1947 by David Ustin and was the first bagel bakery in Los Angeles. [5] [6] It operates retail locations in Southern California and distributes products in the United States and abroad.

Contents

History

David Ustin founded Western Bagel in 1947 after moving to Los Angeles from New York City. [7] [8] [9] Ustin had worked in bakeries in New York and served in the United States Navy during World War II. [5] The first store opened on Pico Boulevard in 1947. [10] [8]

In 1958, the company relocated to Sepulveda Boulevard in Van Nuys, which remains its headquarters. [10] [5] In the 1970s, it began wholesale distribution to supermarket chains including Ralphs, Vons, Stater Bros., Walmart, Smart & Final, and Whole Foods. [11] [5] By the early 2000s, it was one of the largest bagel producers on the West Coast. [12] [9]

Ustin died in 1997, and the company remained family-owned. [13] As of the 2020s, Steve Ustin is president and Jeff Ustin is vice president. [14] [15] [16]

In 2004, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recorded a workplace injury at the company’s facility. [17]

In 2021, the California Court of Appeal ruled in Western Bagel Co., Inc. v. Superior Court that a dispute with a former employee must proceed to arbitration under the Federal Arbitration Act. [18]

In July 2025, a truck crashed into the Van Nuys Western Bagel location, narrowly missing two Los Angeles Police Department officers and causing minor property damage. [19] [20]

References

  1. "WESTERN BAGEL BAKING CORP". Bubba AI. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  2. "Western Bagel". www.timeout.com. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  3. "Where to find the best bagels in Los Angeles". Time Out Los Angeles. Archived from the original on 2025-05-10. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  4. "WESTERN BAGEL SINCE 1947". www.trademarksoncall.com. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Beyond The Bagel Boom: Western Bagel Celebrates 78 Years in LA - LA Weekly". 2025-08-05. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  6. "Started in 1947, Western Bagel Is the Oldest Bagel Joint in Town". www.lamag.com. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  7. Jeanson, Judith Kane (2008-11-12). "The bagel: an L.A. story". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  8. 1 2 Silva, Valentina (2016-03-17). "Started in 1947, Western Bagel Is the Oldest Bagel Joint in Town". LAmag - Culture, Food, Fashion, News & Los Angeles. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  9. 1 2 "Bakers Score Hole in One : Bagel Makers' Quarters Are Small but Business Is Booming". Los Angeles Times. 1985-01-06. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  10. 1 2 Elliott, Farley (2017-03-22). "Witness the greatness of LA's oldest bagel factory". Eater LA. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  11. "FACT Corporation's Flagship Customer, Western Bagel Baking Corporation, Expands Distribution Of Alternative Bagel™ To Wal-Mart Superstores". www.bakeryonline.com. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  12. Winter, Jordan (2022-03-30). "Western Bagel's 70 years of innovation to build a low-carb, protein-rich bagel empire". Commercial Baking. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  13. Collins, Brett Anthony (1997-02-01). "Dave Ustin; Western Bagel Baking Corp. Owner". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  14. Ustin, Jeff (2025-07-10). "What Growing Companies Need to Know About Staying Relevant". Entrepreneur. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  15. Coley, Ben (2025-07-08). "Western Bagel Honors 78 Years of Family, Flour, and Community Impact". QSR Magazine. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  16. "What Over 75 Years In Business Taught Us About Surviving Market Shifts". Young Upstarts. 2025-06-23. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  17. "Accident Report Detail | Occupational Safety and Health Administration osha". www.osha.gov. Archived from the original on 2025-04-11. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  18. "Western Bagel Co., Inc. v. Superior Court". Justia Law. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  19. "Pickup crashes into Western Bagel in Van Nuys". NBC Los Angeles. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  20. Miramontes • •, Génesis Miranda (2025-07-10). "Watch: Pickup nearly strikes LAPD officers before crash into Western Bagel in Van Nuys". NBC Los Angeles. Retrieved 25 August 2025.