New Owners Of Wading River Bagel Shop Spotlight Family, Community

WADING RIVER, NY — New owners for a bagel shop in Wading River are hoping to make their business a gathering spot for the community.

The former Bagel Palace — located in the King Kullen shopping plaza on Route 25-A in Wading River — was recently sold. The newly named Wildcat Bagel Deli is a family affair, with Jordan and Denis Feise running the shop ,along with Feise's stepfather Michael Galfano and her mother Terri Galfano, who own the business. Younger brother Jaden Galfano also works at the store.

Feise plans to decorate the bagel shop with sports memorabilia from Shoreham-Wading River High School and become a true community partner, giving back to the place the whole family calls home.

"We're family-owned, and all of us grew up in small towns surrounding the community, so we've always loved our local neighborhood bagel store," Feise told Patch. "Seeing people from school we knew, our teammates on our school sports teams, neighbors, etc., was always so exciting in the morning."

The family moved to Wading River about a year and a half ago, with Jaden attending Shoreham-Wading River High School as a member of the Class of 2024.

"We started to become so involved in the area, and loved the small town feel, as well as the community," she said. "We decided to buy the bagel deli because we wanted to give back to the community, and become a bigger part of it."

The family's vision is to imbue the bagel show with "that neighborhood breakfast/lunch spot feel," she said. "We already notice our customers chatting over a cup of coffee in the morning. They know each other from school, or work — or they're neighbors. It's a great thing to see."

Working tirelessly to prepare for the official grand opening this month has been the experience of a lifetime, Feise said.

"Embarking on this journey as a family has brought us closer together — there's never a dull moment," she said. "These walls are filled with love and light, which is the energy we want to keep flowing through our store always."

With a focus on community, the family already had the high school football team vote on their new "Wildcat Rumble" menu offering. "It's a homemade version of the McDonald's McGriddle — and it's a hit," Feise said.

She added: "We've already taken the community's feedback regarding specific items the majority would like us to carry, as it's important to us that everyone's happy."

Looking ahead, the family plans to working closely with Shoreham-Wading River High School and the Wildcat Athletic Association. "We also plan on supporting our small local businesses in the area," Feise said.

The family also plans to host character breakfasts featuring Santa, the Easter Bunny, and others — and also plans to expand their lunch menu. In addition, they plan to offer delivery through apps such as DoorDash and Uber Eats.

The business represents more than just a store to all involved — it's a way of planting deep roots.

"It's important to us to play a bigger part in the community, because we love it here," Feise said. "Wading River's our home."

The new owners said they wanted to thank their loyal customers. "We've already begun the transition from the previous store to the new one, and their patience with us has been so wonderful," they said. "We truly appreciate the feedback we've gotten, and we're so grateful and excited for what's to come."

In a time when so much is changing, the routine of gathering for a bagel and a cup of coffee means comfort and memories. "A bagel store means a lot to a community," Feise said. "After all, New York is known for their bagels and famous egg sandwiches. We're also big on family, and our bagel shop is a place for those family breakfasts and memorable moments to happen. We've already had a few ourselves!"

When asked what bagel is her family's favorite, Feise smiled. "We love all the bagels. It's hard to choose."

With the hectic holiday season behind them, Feise reflected: "The best part about opening during the holiday season was getting to meet and connect with so many new people. We are truly grateful for the town's warm welcome."

For additional information on Wildcat Bagel Deli, click here or call 631-870-4224.