Northfield's Tandem Bagels Opening Brings Lines, and Lines of People

How badly did Northfield residents want Tandem Bagels to open?

Not even 8 inches of snow—a snow emergency and school cancellations—could keep folks from forming lines all day long on day one.

A post on the bagel shop's Facebook page summed it up:

"Holy cow Northfield! THANK YOU for an awesome morning! Despite the snowy conditions, we had lines to the door on more than one occasion. On to lunch!"

The shop, located at 317 Division St. S. (next to Goodbye Blue Monday), had been under construction since early December.

The owner is also a familiar face: Tony Frentz. He is a former partner in Bagel Bros. before he sold his share a few years before the Division Street bagel shop closed.

Frentz, who focused on his construction and development business when he left Bagel Bros., told Patch that now was the right time to get back in the bagel business.

He said his wife, Anne, has been raising their three children and wanted to re-enter the workforce. Even years after Bagel Bros. shuttered, Frentz said he kept hearing from former customers about the business, so he and his wife started researching and came up with a concept.

You might not be familiar with the Tandem Bagels name; the first one opened this January in Mankato. Their menu offers an array of bagels, breakfast and lunch sandwiches, as well as other baked goods like muffins, scones and coffee cakes.

“It’s just the right kind of time,” Frentz said. “People really like (Tandem Bagels) and it’s been really fun."