By David A. F. Sweet Once Adam Dlatt and his brother-in-law bought Once Upon a Bagel in Highland Park in 2022, they started to receive daily requests from Lake Forest residents and businesses to deliver their fare to the nearby suburb. Last June, the duo decided to bring the business to them. Once Upon a Bagel opened its fifth store (there’s also one in Winnetka and two in Northbrook) on the north side of Deerpath Road. Brimming with fresh bagels, homemade soups, sandwiches, salads and more, the tiny shop often enjoys lines out the door.
“The residents here are just wonderful," says Once Upon a Bagel co-owner Adam Dlatt.
Why has Once Upon a Bagel become popular so quickly? “Our employees have been with the company for years, and they know how to take care of the customers,” Dlatt said. “There’s hardly anywhere else to get sandwiches to go. We have quickly developed regulars, and our folks know what they want.” Added Manager Zumi Chavez, “We were told by customers, ‘We finally have a place that has good fresh bagels.’ I have a customer that gets two raisin bagels every day. Another guy gets a half gallon of hearty vegetable soup every Friday.” The shop offers many specials. There is a monthly bagel appropriate to the time of year. In January, for example, a New Year’s confetti bagel was available, and around Valentine’s Day, red bagels were sold. On the daily front, Once Upon a Bagel’s lox and tuna is made specially just for them and is trimmed to the store’s specifications. The store smokes its own fish, and nearly a dozen flavors of cream cheese are made fresh every day. Skinny bagels are half the calories of a normal bagel, and bagel balls come in a variety of flavors, including chocolate chip for the kids. Duffins are the unusual combination of half donut, half muffin.
Once Upon a Bagel in Lake Forest offers a variety of food choices for customers.
Dlatt – who worked for 20 years for General Motors before transitioning to the deli business -- acknowledges challenges exist, as they do for any business. “The biggest challenge is the size and no seating. Part of that was by design,” he said. “But we make it work. There are some tables in the atrium steps away they allow us to use.” Also, given the construction on Deerpath, the store has adapted by promoting online orders and curbside pickups in four new 15-minute parking spots to make life easier for customers. Dlatt has enjoyed his first nine months in town. "The community has been welcoming,” he said. “The residents here are just wonderful. They’re very kind and sweet.” The Deerpath Streetscape Project is bringing much-needed infrastructure improvements to the heart of Lake Forest. Construction can be challenging, so we’re shining a spotlight on the incredible businesses in the project area along Deerpath. Please keep our community strong by shopping, dining, and supporting these businesses throughout the project. Follow along as we continue highlighting Deerpath businesses throughout the project.