Katz Bagel Bakery began its journey in 1938 when Harry Katz, a skilled baker trained by his uncle, took over a struggling bakery at 139 Park Street in Chelsea, Massachusetts. What started as a neighborhood bakery offering challah, rolls, breads, and bagels soon evolved into a bagel-centric operation. The local community embraced Harry’s commitment to quality, and the bagel became the star of the show.
The Katz Way: Tradition Meets Precision
From the very beginning, Katz bagels were made by hand—a slow, labor-intensive process that demanded skill, consistency, and care. As the bakery grew, Harry wasn’t satisfied with the existing bagel machines on the market. So, with the help of a machinist friend, he created his own. Although it required a two-step process compared to others’ single-step operations, it produced top-quality bagels that lived up to Katz standards.
The lesson? It’s not the machine—it’s the baker. Even with modern equipment, we follow the same meticulous process: mixing, forming, proofing, retarding, boiling, and baking. Every step matters. One wrong move and the bagel loses its essence. At Katz, we make sure every step is right.
In the early 1970s, Harry had a revolutionary idea: what if you flattened a bagel, closed the hole, added tomato sauce and cheese, and baked it? Just like that, the pizza bagel was born—a unique fusion of chewy boiled dough and classic pizza flavors. It quickly became a sensation and remains one of our most iconic offerings to this day. Boiled first, topped second, baked to finish—it’s a Katz original, through and through.
Now in its third generation, Katz Bagel Bakery continues to thrive, staying true to the values that built it: craftsmanship, consistency, and community. The original location at 139 Park Street remains our home base, where ovens still roar before sunrise and the scent of fresh bagels fills the Chelsea air.
Our history isn’t just about bagels—it’s about tradition. It’s about a family’s unwavering dedication to doing things the right way. And most of all, it’s about a bakery that never forgot where it came from.
Visit Us
Come see the bakery that’s been shaping the heart of Chelsea since 1938. Taste the legacy. Experience the tradition. Take home a Katz.
Katz Bagel Bakery
139 Park Street, Chelsea, MA
Family-Owned Since 1938
