New Campus bagel store will soon open its doors

The store, Izzy and Zoe's, will debut at its 40th Street location by February 7. Bagels are back. A new delicatessen and bagel shop will open by February 7 in Hamilton Village, according to John Greenwood, a top official at the University's real estate company. Izzy and Zoe's will occupy the 1,550 square-foot space formerly held by My Favorite Muffin on 40th Street. The University terminated the muffin store's lease last fall after deeming it inadequate for student needs. Since Penn's last bagel store, University Bagels, shut down with the closing of Houston Hall for renovations in 1998, students have yearned for another bagel shop. Originally slated to open January 10, the new store delayed launching service so that construction could be completed, according to owner Elissa Rivkind's husband Jon Rivkind, who owns the Fairmount Bagel Institute in Center City. "We wanted to make sure that it was done right," Jon Rivkind said. "We could have cut corners and opened a week ago." Yesterday, Greenwood said construction of the Sundance Cinemas complex, which shares a common wall with Izzy and Zoe's, interfered with renovations to the bagel store. "There were some complications that cost a couple of weeks," Greenwood said. The bagel shop will neighbor the Sundance Cinemas complex and the Freshgrocer.com specialty food market. Penn officials have predicted that these developments will enhance commercial activity along the 40th Street corridor. Rivkind said his wife's new establishment will be unrecognizable to those familiar with its predecessor, with about 40 seats, Internet outlets and a bartop for studying. "Everything, including the walls, is new," Rivkind said. Izzy and Zoe's menu will offer sandwiches, soups, salads and traditional Jewish specialties to customers from 7 a.m. to 9 or 10 p.m., according to Rivkind, whose daughter and grandfather serve as the store's namesakes. Calling his wife's new store "the place to go for late night," Rivkind added that Izzy and Zoe's will provide free delivery with a yet-to-be specified minimum order. Students are already anxious for the bagel store's arrival. After an ad ran in the Coupon Clipper Magazine distributed last week on Locust Walk, Rivkind said he received food orders on the store's answering machine. Students said the new store will be a welcome change. "We don't have any nice lunch places," said College junior Lenis Gonzalez, who currently buys sandwiches at Campus Market. "We only have the food court," Gonzalez added. "You can only eat there so many times a week." Neighboring restaurants said they also look forward to Izzy and Zoe's arrival. "I can't wait 'til they open," Allegro's Pizza Manager Angelo Hernandez said. "I love bagels." Hernandez said he believes that retail in the area needs more variety, adding that he will be right behind students in line to eat at the restaurant once it opens. Several new establishments will also join Izzy and Zoe's in the 40th area. Bitar's Restaurant, serving Middle Eastern cuisine, will fill the site of the former Cool Peppers Mexican Grill on 40th Street by the end of March. And an alcohol-free indie rock music venue may open, under the name 4040, in early February at 4040 Locust Street.