BagelWorks has been serving handmade, New York-style bagels to Bozeman since the 1990s, and their commitment to good food and community is evident the moment I open the door. I am greeted by the delicious scent of fresh bagels, and happy chatter from both customers and employees. It’s early afternoon, the seating area is full, and I feel instantly welcomed. This is not the first time I’ve been here, nor will it be the last. When I was in college, I remember countless early morning stops here before skiing or a long hike. It was a staple then, and I am glad to see it is a staple now.

BagelWorks has changed hands several times since its inception in 1991, but the work done to carry many of the founding commitments forward and into the future shows. The friendly environment, the quality, the consistency and, of course, the bagels, have made this Bozeman establishment a longtime local favorite for nearly 35 years.

I sat down with BagelWorks’ owner, Amy Points, to chat about all things bagels, and what it’s like serving the Bozeman community.

Emma Lichtwardt: Tell me a little bit about how BagelWorks began.

Amy Points: Actually, BagelWorks began with a bicycle trip. Amelia Cain Kerscher and Gary DiPaolo came through Bozeman on a bike tour back in the 90s, and really loved it. They began to ask folks around town where the bagel shop was, and when they found out there wasn’t one, they decided to open their own. They did some research, got the ball rolling, and developed BagelWorks in 1991. They ran the place until 2008, when a long-time employee took over. In February 2019, I bought the business with two partners; I ended up buying them out in 2023.

EL: What prompted that for you?

AP: They were ready to be out of the business. They wanted to sell, but I couldn’t have that happen. Next year will be 35 years of operation for us. It’s something we’re proud of, for sure.

EL: Can you tell me what makes BagelWorks unique in the Bozeman food scene?

AP: First, the bagel itself—then, consistency. From the bagel to the environment, to the customer interaction, everything has always been consistent. I’ve always valued customer interaction; when I took over the business,
I was told that Amelia always knew the names of all her customers, and I really loved that. I would like to keep that same kind of experience alive here. I think this makes BagelWorks unique because, of course, we care about providing a stellar product at a great price, but we also care about people.

EL: What do you hope for people to experience when they walk through your door?

AP: Satisfaction from start to finish, starting with the interaction with the employee making their order, to the timeliness of getting their food, and finishing with a great quality bagel. One of my favorite things is seeing people eating their bagel on their way out the door. Before they even get to the car they’ve started eating, because it’s an incredible product. We hope to have people returning for both of these things: experience and quality.


EL: What is one menu item that regulars keep coming back for?

AP: The Asiago Delight-O and the Bacon Blaze are very popular specialty sandwiches that are newer to our menu. Years before those specialty sandwiches made it on the

menu, the Bobcat has been the go-to, with double meat, egg, and cheese, on whatever bagel the customer chooses. We have people who are calling in for these sandwiches, and that is a big deal for us; we love to know what people like.

EL: Do you have a personal favorite?

AP: My favorite bagels are the Asiago and the Cheddar Jalapeño, for sure. I mean, the Works is popular, but the Asiago is my go-to.

EL: What do you enjoy most about being part of the Bozeman community?

AP: How friendly everybody is. I haven’t lived here my whole life, but what drew me to come here was the people. The sights are amazing too; you can’t ask for better, but the way people treat each other here has always made Bozeman stand out to me. Being part of a community of people and businesses who take care of each other and have each other’s backs is so nice. I love to see people gathering here and enjoying themselves.

EL: Is there anything you would like the community to know about?

AP: Well, a few things. First, We’re working on doing a different weekly menu item, so keep an eye out for that. Second, we do sell bagels wholesale in local grocery stores. I like to make sure people know that. And lastly, I want to highlight the students in our community. The majority of our staff is students from MSU and the local high schools. The hard work they do is just great, and we love having them here at BagelWorks. We love supporting Bozeman students and being a part of student communities. We feed the MSU football team every year, and that is a big deal for us, to support our student community. Also, we’re hiring!

After this conversation, I had a delicious Asiago bagel as I walked home. It’s great to see a long-standing Bozeman business doing what they do best. If you haven’t already, stop by for a bagel—you won’t be disappointed.