[EXCLUSIVE] Yaba's Looks to Fill Bagel Hole in Dunwoody

A new bagel shop will soon rise from the remains of another.  Yaba's Bagels plans to open later this June in Ashford Place (4780 Ashford Dunwoody Road) in place of 101 Bagel Cafe which closed last July in the roughly 1,800 square foot space.  

Husband and wife Ahmad and Lena Nashif are opening the new bagel shop.  The couple moved from New York to metro Atlanta nearly a decade ago, landing first in Dunwoody but residing now in Johns Creek.  Although they are new to the restaurant business, Lena's father has been in the business for more than forty years and has run successful bakeries in three states.  

The restaurant's name, Yaba, which means father in Arabic, is meant to pay homage to Mac, Lena's father.    

Much like Steven Novotny and Julie Dragich of Chamblee's Bronx Bagel Buggy, the Nashifs' passion for bagels led them to leave their jobs in corporate America to devote their time to crafting authentic New York-style bagels.   

The couple is still working to finalize their menu, but one offering will be the "Hotlanta," bagel with scallion schmear, egg, cheddar cheese, and turkey bacon drizzled with Mike’s  Hot Honey.  

Ahmad tells ToNeTo Atlanta that he hopes to open later this summer but also wants everything to be perfect as he and his wife are well aware that "you never get a second chance at a first impression."   To start, the couple plans to focus on their boiled bagels and bagel sandwiches but may add other complementary offerings in the weeks and months ahead.  

About three miles south of Yaba's, the Brookhaven community is also getting a new bagel shop with the third overall location of Brooklyn Bagel & Deli expected to open soon.  ToNeTo Atlanta was first to report on the shop's planned opening last April and is told that both it and the center's new anchor Publix are on track to open later this summer.      

In Ashford Place, Yaba's joins Sushi Kingdom, which opened this past May in the former Wild Wing Cafe (originally Romano's Macaroni Grill).  Stone Age Korean Steakhouse and Desi District, a new Indian restaurant, are also expected to open in the center later this year.  

Are you excited about the opening of Yaba's in Dunwoody?  What shop in metro Atlanta do you think makes the best bagel?  What is your favorite bagel flavor? 

Please share your thoughts below.