Still Covering The Spread

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William “Billy” Tarnol started working when he was only 15 years old, selling newspapers at La Cienega and Santa Monica boulevards, and he hasn’t stopped since.

He’ll turn 80 at the end of the month and he’s still working at the Bagel Broker in the Fairfax district, which he opened in 1987 after plans to start a sandwich franchise fell through. The shop will celebrate its 25th anniversary this month with various promotions and sales.

“We were originally supposed to be the first of a new franchise,” Tarnol said. “But it didn’t work out, so I decided to just change the name and started running it myself.”

Before Bagel Broker’s time, people went to the local bakery to buy the doughy rings in bulk to eat at home. His shop was among the first in the area to focus more on dining in.

“I decided to start up one that served sandwiches and coffee, sit-down eating,” he said. “I had turkey, egg salad, tuna salad, things like that.”

He said the shop broke even the day it opened and has continued to do well.

“We figured out what we needed and we made it the very first day,” he said. “I guess we got lucky.”

Now the shop competes with chains such as Noah’s Bagels of Golden, Colo. But Bagel Broker has remained competitive by offering more. When a customer orders 13 bagels – a baker’s dozen – Tarnol throws an extra bagel in for free. A box of 14 bagels costs $8.95. At Noah’s Bagels, a box of 13 costs $10.

Today, Tarnol’s son Jason runs the business while Billy Tarnol balances the books. The elder Tarnol has cut back his hours in recent years, but still comes in on Saturdays to catch up with longtime customers.

Jason added catering when he joined the business, targeting local TV and film studios as customers. It was a good move; catering now makes up 60 percent of sales; retail makes up 40 percent.

Billy Tarnol said working keeps him happy and healthy.

“I think it helped me get to be 80, so I don’t want to give up on it,” he said. “I suppose if my son kicks me out, then I’ll have to go.”

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