Here in New Jersey, there are three major food groups: pizza, pasta, and bagels. Hoboken has always been a frontrunner in the Italian restaurant department, but as recently as the early '80s, the City was without a traditional bagel shop. Hoboken's first, Hoboken Hot Bagels, opened in 1983 and still stands proudly — and relatively unchanged — at 634 Washington Street. The shop was started by Dick Wehr Jr. and is now run by his son, Richard. Richard's daughter, Francesca, is also a Hoboken business owner: a licensed social worker providing mental health counseling through her company Francesca Wehr, LCSW. We caught up with Richard and Francesca to talk about all things Hoboken, bagels, and business-owning. Keep reading to learn more about Hoboken's first bagel shop and the family behind it.

Origin Story

This story begins not with Dick or Richard but with Dick's wife, Jane Milo Wehr. Her father owned Campus Music in Hoboken and the neighboring property at 634 Washington Street. In 1983, Jane's father wanted to sell the property — and noticing a gap in the market, Dick Wehr decided to start a bagel store (Well, technically three. He opened two other stores in New Jersey, too).

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Richard was in high school at the time and was involved in the business from the get-go: baking, helping customers, and supporting his father in any way he could. As he puts it, his dad was the "brains and the money," while Richard was "the muscle."

Ten years later, in 1993, Dick wanted to sell the business and offered it up to Richard. For Richard, it was a no-brainer. He took over the Hoboken location and Ridgefield Park location. He's been in Hoboken ever since.

And like the ownership, not much has changed about Hoboken Hot Bagels since its inception. The recipes are the same ones originated by Dick Wehr and the equipment — including the bagel mixer — was purchased by Dick back in the '80s. Richard says that this old-schooler mixer "makes Hoboken Hot Bagels what they are."

What's On The Menu?

Hoboken Hot Bagels is exactly what you want from a New Jersey bagel shop: no frills, no fancy bells and whistles. Just bagels, cream cheeses (made in-house), breakfast sandwiches, and some chips.

But if there's a standout menu item, it's the everything bagel, which Dick Wehr used to say he invented. Richard doubts this, but Dick certainly invented his own kind of everything bagel. Both sides of the bagel are dipped into the seed mixture, ensuring maximum coverage with sesame seeds, poppy seeds, garlic, onion, and salt. It's very garlicky and very good.

Richard's go-to menu item is the everything bagel with sliced nova, scallion cream cheese, capers, and onions. Francesca, his daughter, is vegan-leaning, so opts for the everything bagel with the onion tofu spread.

HG pro tip: if there's a line outside, stay in it. Richard says this is when the bagels are fresh out of the oven, putting truth to the name Hoboken Hot Bagels.

Generational Impact

The first-hand exposure to running a business undoubtedly impacted Richard, and that impact was passed down to the next generation of Wehrs. Richard's daughter, Francesca is a licensed therapist and runs her own counseling practice here in Hoboken.

Mental health services may seem like a far cry from the bagel business (though, bagels are their own form of therapy), but Francesca says her father and grandfather played an instrumental role in her career.

"Seeing my dad run the business made the idea of starting a business seem like something that could be done," Francesca shared. "I saw my dad do it, I saw my grandpa do it, so it was just this natural progression of things. I didn't really think too much about the risks involved — but I learned along the way." For Francesca, it felt like a natural next step in her career; and Hoboken was the natural location.

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For Richard, it's the people that make the place. "As I've grown older and been here long enough, you see the new people coming and going — but I still have so many original friends that were here, and are still here," he remarked about owning a business in Hoboken. "It's a wonderful town; people are very friendly."

Hoboken Hot Bagels is open 6AM-2PM every day of the week (except Sundays, when it opens at 7AM). You can order in person or online, and keep up with Hoboken Hot Bagels on Instagram here.