National Bagel Day 2019 Complete Guide To New Yorks Free Bagel Offers And Special Deals

National Bagel Day in 2019 presented an unusual situation with conflicting dates across different sources. While some establishments celebrated on January 15, most major bagel chains recognized the holiday on February 9, the same day as National Pizza Day. This created opportunities for consumers to take advantage of special promotions and free offers throughout the month of February. New York, known for its vibrant bagel culture, hosted numerous deals from both national chains and local establishments. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the freebies and special offers available in New York during National Bagel Day 2019, based on verified information from participating establishments.

The Date Confusion: January 15 vs. February 9

National Bagel Day in 2019 was marked by a discrepancy in celebration dates. According to source material, Thomas' Breads declared January 15 as the new National Bagel Day in an attempt to avoid sharing the spotlight with National Pizza Day on February 9. However, many established bagel chains continued to recognize the traditional February 9 date. This dual celebration meant that consumers had opportunities to access special offers on both dates, though February 9 saw more widespread participation from major bagel establishments.

The confusion around the date stemmed from a desire by some brands to create a dedicated celebration for bagels without competition from pizza, another beloved food item. Despite the efforts to establish January 15 as the primary date, most consumers and businesses appeared to recognize February 9 as the more traditional National Bagel Day, as evidenced by the majority of promotions and special offers occurring on that date.

Major Bagel Chain Offers in New York

Several national bagel chains with New York locations participated in National Bagel Day 2019 with special promotions. These offers provided significant value to consumers and highlighted the competitive nature of the bagel market.

Einstein Bros. Bagels

Einstein Bros. Bagels, a national chain with multiple locations in the New York area, offered customers a free bagel with shmear (cream cheese) of their choice with any purchase. This promotion did not require a coupon, making it easily accessible to all customers. According to the company, this deal was part of their new "Power of the Bagel" campaign, which aimed to highlight the protein content in bagels. Additionally, customers visiting an Einstein Bros. Bagels store on National Bagel Day received a coupon for a free bagel that they could gift to someone else, extending the celebration beyond their immediate visit.

Noah's New York Bagel Company

Noah's New York Bagel Company, which has multiple locations in the New York area, celebrated National Bagel Day by offering customers a free bagel and schmear with any purchase. This straightforward promotion allowed customers to enjoy a complimentary bagel while already purchasing other items. The company explicitly positioned this as an invitation for customers to "join their company" to celebrate the "hole-y holiday," emphasizing the communal aspect of enjoying bagels.

Manhattan Bagel

Manhattan Bagel, with locations in seven states including New York, participated in National Bagel Day by offering customers a bagel with cream cheese for only 99 cents with any purchase. This represented a significant discount from regular prices. The promotion came with certain limitations: customers were limited to two discounted bagels per transaction, and "gourmet bagels" such as bialys and French toast bagels were not included in the deal. This exclusion of specialty items helped manage costs while still providing substantial value on traditional bagel varieties.

Ess-a-Bagel

Ess-a-Bagel, a smaller chain with locations primarily in the New York City area, took a different approach to celebrating National Bagel Day. Rather than offering free or discounted bagels, the company pledged to donate a percentage of all its National Bagel Day profits to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. This charitable approach allowed customers to contribute to a good cause while enjoying their favorite bagels. Additionally, Ess-a-Bagel featured a limited-edition signature bagel sandwich with gold leaf flakes, adding an element of luxury to their National Bagel Day offerings.

Bruegger's Bagels

Bruegger's Bagels celebrated National Bagel Day by offering special deals to both existing and new customers. Members of the chain's Inner Circle rewards program received a coupon for $2 off a $5 purchase, valid through National Bagel Day. New members had the opportunity to sign up and receive a free bagel and cream cheese. The company also encouraged customers to check in to a Bruegger's location on January 15 for a chance to win a year's worth of bagels, adding an element of gamification to their promotion.

Special Promotions and Events

In addition to the standard promotions at established bagel chains, several special events and promotions took place in New York during National Bagel Day 2019.

Thomas' Breads Pop-ups

Thomas' Breads, best known for their English muffins, celebrated National Bagel Day with free bagel pop-ups across the country, including several New York locations. At these pop-ups, visitors had the chance to find a Willy Wonka-like golden ticket (in this case, an orange ticket) which would win them various prizes. One lucky finder received a free smart watch, while another in one of the cities won a $2,500 voucher for groceries. These pop-ups created excitement and buzz around National Bagel Day, drawing crowds and generating social media attention.

Bagel Nook's New Creation

While primarily operating in New Jersey, Bagel Nook introduced its fiery Takis bagel on National Bagel Day, which was also available at their Princeton store. This innovative creation demonstrated the creativity that bagel shops bring to National Bagel Day celebrations, offering unique flavor profiles beyond traditional bagel varieties.

Local New York Shops

Several local New York bagel shops participated in National Bagel Day with their own special offers. While specific details about New York City shops were limited in the source material, the pattern established by New Jersey shops (such as Belmar Bagels offering "buy one dozen, get four free" and Hot Bagel Bakery offering $3 off per dozen) suggests that similar promotions were likely available at local establishments throughout New York.

Terms and Conditions for Offers

Each National Bagel Day promotion came with specific terms and conditions that consumers needed to understand to fully benefit from the offers.

Purchase Requirements

Many promotions required a purchase to qualify for the free or discounted items. For example, Noah's New York Bagel Company and Einstein Bros. Bagels both required customers to make a purchase to receive their free bagel and schmear. This "with purchase" condition helped manage costs for the businesses while still providing value to customers.

Membership Requirements

Some offers required customers to be members of specific loyalty programs. Bruegger's Bagels, for instance, offered special deals to members of its Inner Circle rewards program, while new members could sign up to receive a free bagel and cream cheese. These membership requirements helped businesses build their customer databases and encourage repeat visits.

Product Limitations

Several promotions included limitations on which products could be included in the deals. Manhattan Bagel excluded "gourmet bagels" such as bialys and French toast bagels from their 99-cent promotion. Similarly, some shops limited the number of discounted items per customer or per transaction. These limitations helped businesses manage inventory and costs while still providing substantial value.

Geographic Restrictions

While most of the national chains offered consistent promotions across their locations, some promotions were subject to geographic restrictions. For example, certain deals might only be available at specific store locations or within particular regions. The source material does not indicate significant geographic restrictions for New York-area locations, but consumers were advised to verify with their local establishments.

Time Limitations

National Bagel Day promotions were generally limited to the specific day of celebration (either January 15 or February 9, depending on the establishment). Some promotions, like Bruegger's $2 off $5 coupon, were valid through National Bagel Day, while others were strictly limited to the day itself. These time limitations created urgency for consumers to take advantage of the offers.

Maximizing National Bagel Day Benefits

For consumers looking to maximize their benefits during National Bagel Day 2019, several strategies emerged based on the available promotions.

Planning Around Multiple Dates

Given the date discrepancy between January 15 and February 9, some consumers strategically planned to take advantage of promotions on both dates. This approach was particularly effective for establishments that recognized different dates, allowing consumers to access multiple offers throughout the month.

Combining Offers

While the source material doesn't explicitly mention the ability to combine multiple offers, consumers who were members of loyalty programs might have been able to stack promotions. For example, a Bruegger's Inner Circle member could potentially use their $2 off $5 coupon in combination with other available deals.

Exploring Local Shops

Beyond the national chains, local bagel shops often participated in National Bagel Day with their own unique promotions. Consumers were encouraged to explore their neighborhood bagel shops and inquire about special deals, as these establishments sometimes offered more generous or creative promotions than larger chains.

Social Media Engagement

Several establishments encouraged customers to engage with them on social media using hashtags like #NationalBagelDay. This engagement not only raised awareness of promotions but also sometimes unlocked additional deals or entered customers into contests for prizes.

Conclusion

National Bagel Day 2019 provided New York consumers with numerous opportunities to enjoy free and discounted bagels from both national chains and local establishments. Despite the date confusion between January 15 and February 9, the dual celebration actually benefited consumers by extending the promotional period. From Einstein Bros. and Noah's offering free bagels with purchase to Manhattan Bagel's 99-cent deal and Ess-a-Bagel's charitable approach, there were options for every preference and budget. By understanding the terms and conditions of each offer and planning strategically, consumers could maximize their National Bagel Day experience and enjoy some of New York's most beloved baked goods at exceptional value.

Sources

1. National Bagel Day 2022: Where to get freebies and deals
2. 7 Deals & Freebies You Can Score On National Bagel Day
3. 5 Places Where You Can Score A Free Bagel On National Bagel Day
4. National Pizza Day 2019: Get free pizza and deals Saturday
5. May deals: Where to get free food and other discounts this month