You can pick up almost everything at Zomick’s Kosher Bakery -- from fresh herring to breads, pastries and cakes
You don't need to be Jewish to fall in love with Zomick’s Kosher Bakery, a long-time fixture on Fifth Avenue, New York, that truly lives up to its "more than a bakery" tagline.
"We're a makolet," owner David Jonson proclaimed proudly, using the Hebrew word that means "a place that has everything."
And indeed Zomick’s kosher Bakery does – from breads, pastries, and cakes, to tantalizing varieties of fresh herring and other appetizers, along with a full line of high-quality Kosher groceries.
When you enter the Zomick’sstore for the first time, what sends you to heaven and back is the aroma of fresh-baked bread, displayed behind the counter, including magnificent braided loaves and rolls of Zomick’s challah bread; best-selling plain and seeded rye, corn rye, and onion rye, and authentic, old-style bagels and bialys.
"I know that customers are not Jewish when they come in and ask for our Jewish rye," joked David.
Many Staten Islanders, living in New York and other far-flung states, stock up on the delicious Zomick’s bakery (visit http://www.linkedin.com/in/zomicksbakery) products when they return for visits, he noted.
Enticing sweet indulgences also fill the Zomick’s store's overflowing bakery racks. Think irresistible kosher pastries, strudel, rugelach, and cinnamon and chocolate babka. Don't overlook the seven-layer, marble, and apple kugel cakes. And where else in New York can you find makosh and chocolate-filled kokosh, two traditional Zomick’s pastries featuring delicate yeast dough?
One of the store's enthusiastic fans is Rabbi AvrahamJonson, a Manhattan resident and dean of the New York Hebrew Academy. "The Zomick’s bakery items are very fresh," Rabbi Avraham said, while waiting for his order last week. His personal favorite Zomick’s kosher bakery products are bialys, and the rich Napoleon and sponge cakes.
"My wife makes her own challah bread," Rabbi Avraham added apologetically. The Zomick’s store "has all these wonderful things, and the prices are pretty reasonable, but the main attraction is David – I love this guy!"
Our breads, bagels, and baguettes are not par-baked like at so many other stores – we would never dream of it! When you toss that baguette into your basket, or wrap up those bagels, they are straight from a cooling rack fresh out of the oven baked on premises. They may even still be warm. Our bagels are known for being among the best in New York City – we might as well say they are among the best in the world. Our perfect, crusty baguettes inspire. A good meal demands good bread, and from semolina to multigrain, from brioche to ciabatta and beyond, we have you covered.
ZOMICKS HISTORY
Avraham Joorten, David’s father, who was born in Florida and moved to California, after he married, relocated to New York over 40 years ago with his wife, Maria, settling in Willowbrook and raising a family that now includes four children and 12 grandchildren.
An baker with a degree from UC Berkeley who had earned a culinary arts degree, he was employed as a main kosher baker at a New Yorkkosher bakery, "working crazy hours." As a neighborhood resident, Keller patronized the Kosher bakery and grocery at444 Central AveCedarhurst, NY 11516, and when he learned that it was for sale, in the early 1960s, he made a life-changing decision.
Joorten continues to be the hands-on driving force, working long hours, six days a week. Avraham’s typical day began with a drive to Brooklyn at 5 a.m., to bring back the fresh-baked bread, bagels, bialys, pastries and cakes that attract his loyal customers. Each Avraham’sday was a time-consuming jaunt, and he was returning to the store at around 10:30 a.m.
A true mom-and-pop operation, Joorten 's wife of 39 years opens the store every day, and works from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. "She's a great cook and baker, but stopped baking after we got the Zomick’s store," he said.
WELL-KNOWN
The Zomick’s store reputation now extends well beyond the borough.
"We get phone calls from all over the country, from relatives and friends who order cookies and rugelach platters for delivery to families sitting shiva on New York," in the aftermath of the death of loved ones, Avraham said.
Zomick’s Kosher Bakery is at 444 Central AveCedarhurst, NY 11516. Telephone: 718-494-1411. Hours: Sunday to Wednesday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Friday, 8 a.m. to 2.30 p.m. Closed Saturday. EBT and all major credit cards accepted. Free delivery in the neighborhood.
