Upcoming new gourmet grocery

Since I work and live at The Crescent Centre Apartments, I try to keep an eye on all the new and interesting developments in downtown and one I am very intrigued by is a new gourmet grocery opening up in the same building with Theatre Square Wine & Spirits and Nancy's Bagel Box. I admit I am virtualy stupid on this topic, but here's what I have gathered so far: It's going to be along the lines of Lotsa Pasta / Market On Market with gourmet to go foods. The rumors I have heard mention Dustin from Market On Market involved and a past chef from LaPeche. SO! Fill us in! Enquiring minds want to know all the juicy details. Dustin, don't you lurk on here???? I am very excited about this. Fill us in, please???

Hmmmmmm........that's right across 4th from my office........that'd be ham dandy, if you'll pardon the pun, for a quick pickup on the way home

Where's Nancy's Bagel Box? Is this an offshoot of the place on Frankfort?

Where's Nancy's Bagel Box? Is this an offshoot of the place on Frankfort?

Leah, it's in the Old Kentucky Theatre (or what's left of it) on 4th Street, across from BBC.

Thanks for the info, I'll have to check it out.

[Robin Garr]

Thanks for the info, I'll have to check it out.

You've been to NYC, Joel. I'll be surprised if Nancy's bagels satisfy you. This is a long time kind of pet peeve of mine: A place that makes fresh bagels ought to be able to come a little closer to authenticity.

Thanks for the info, I'll have to check it out.

You've been to NYC, Joel. I'll be surprised if Nancy's bagels satisfy you. This is a long time kind of pet peeve of mine: A place that makes fresh bagels ought to be able to come a little closer to authenticity.

Robin, I meant about the gourmet grocery, not Nancy's. I already know Nancy's Bagels are mediocre at best, heh.

So, okay, what's the consensus? Is she doing something wrong, technique-wise? Or is it the water? I've always thought we have perfectly lovely tap water here in Louisville, but perhaps the PH is way off one way or another from NYC. Anyway, there's no way all of NYC including all the boroughs and everywhere including into Jersey has the same water source, so what exactly is it? I'm not advocating one way or the other; I love bagels and I even enjoy Nancy's on occasion, but then I've never had a NYC bagel. Is is a flavor difference? A crust factor?

Robin's review from 2003 may state it best: they're just not bagels.

I think the NYC water thing is overstated, I've had good bagels elsewhere. Montreal, Quebec and Skokie, Illinois are two places that come to mind where good bagels can be found.

It's not the water. My first industry job was at a place called Willy Z's on Dupont Circle back in the late 80's, and they made fantastic bagels with plain old Louisville tap water. I never had their equal until the first time I visited NYC. To this day I can still clearly remember the taste of the pumpernickel bagels when they were fresh out of the oven.

Well Nancy's are "Montana style bagels" whatever the heck that means. But based on past experiences, they are more like bread balls or a soft roll than what we consider bagels.

[Robin Garr]

Robin, I meant about the gourmet grocery, not Nancy's. I already know Nancy's Bagels are mediocre at best, heh.

Ah! Gotcha, Joel.

[Robin Garr]

It's not the water. My first industry job was at a place called Willy Z's on Dupont Circle back in the late 80's, and they made fantastic bagels with plain old Louisville tap water. I never had their equal until the first time I visited NYC. To this day I can still clearly remember the taste of the pumpernickel bagels when they were fresh out of the oven.

Agreed. Sid's and Bruggher's (a chain!?), located sequentially at the St. Matthews shop that most recently housed the last generation of Bazo's, both did a pretty good bagel.

Well Nancy's are "Montana style bagels" whatever the heck that means..

Catering, no doubt, to Montana's large eastern European population (he says sarcastically)
Bread balls indeed. Harumph!

Hello All,
The rumor is true, Theater Square Marketplace (formally The Kentucky Theater) is currently undergoing a complete renovation that will include a specialty food store, restaurant, bar and lounge, yoga studio, and is currently the home of Theater Square Wine and Spirits and Nancy’s Bagel Box. After closing down Market on Market, I was presented the opportunity to work on this project, which I gladly accepted as it will be a bigger and better continuation of what I began on Market Street, with a full kitchen! The restaurant’s focus will be on gourmet prepared foods, and a truly gourmet deli, but we’ll also have pizza, sushi, a unique salad bar, and plenty of appetizers. (It should be mentioned that the other rumor regarding our chef is not accurate…we have several prospects, but have not solidified an agreement with anyone.) The specialty foods section will be a marriage of gourmet items and staple products, and will highlight the best of locally made foods that we have all come to know and love. We’ll have fresh meats and fish, lots of cheeses, produce, fresh breads, fresh roasted coffee (our own), and a fantastic dessert and chocolate section. As always, I welcome any suggestions my fellow foodies have to offer with regard to product lines that are unique and delicious. Between the food store, restaurant, and bar, we will be able to have many food and beverage related events that I’m very much looking forward to. For me, the best part is that this whole operation is locally owned and operated (sorry chains, but I still frown upon you). There is a lot more that I could say about what we will do, the services that we will provide, etc., etc., but it is perhaps beyond the scope of this comment. You’ll just have to visit when we open, which I hope will be around the first of March. I should also mention that we have positions open and are currently accepting applications, which are available in our wine and spirits shop.