Kettlemans Bagel: A Glebe staple with global reach
Amer Wahab, President of Kettlemans Bagel
Photo: Dana Mitchell
Kettlemans’ Glebe location after it was renovated in 2014
Photo: Courtesy of Kettlemans Bagel Co.
Kettlemans Bagel: A Glebe staple with global reach
By Dana Mitchell
Kettlemans has been a beloved Ottawa institution since opening in 1993. This local bagel shop has become a cornerstone of Glebe, known for its traditional Montreal-style bagels and welcoming atmosphere 24 hours a day every day of the year. It continues to thrive under the leadership of its president, Amer Wahab, who has guided the business through a period of growth and expansion while staying true to its roots.
“We’ve been in business 31 years, and we honour our history every day,” says Wahab. “The recipe we have is tried and very true, and we don’t veer away from it. We still make our bagels exactly how we made them 31 years ago.”
Kettlemans was founded by Montrealers Joe Bianchini and Craig Buckley, who saw a gap in the Ottawa market for authentic Montreal-style bagels. What began as a small, 1,200-square-foot operation on Bank Street at Holmwood has since expanded into a 3,000-square-foot space, with multiple locations across Ottawa and beyond. Despite this growth, Wahab emphasizes the enduring spirit of the business.
“We have bits of our DNA in all our stores,” says the president. “We’ve taken the pergola feel of our original location and we’ve applied that: the exposed brick, the wood, the barn board, the exterior sign. The DNA is all there. It’s evolved, but it’s only gotten better.”
Wahab’s journey with Kettlemans began like many others – as a customer. One late night in 1993, he stopped by for a Reuben sandwich and chocolate milk, an experience that still resonates with him.
“I walked in at 3 a.m. and had this incredible Reuben sandwich on a bagel,” Wahab recalls. “To this day, the Reuben is my go-to sandwich. There was something magical about the experience.”
Wahab officially joined Kettlemans in 2015 when he was approached with an opportunity to help grow the brand. At the time, Wahab had built a career in the restaurant industry but had never considered that Kettlemans could be scaled.
“It was always something special,” Wahab says. “But I never thought of it as being scalable. It had the mom-and-pop feel. But once I saw the renovations and the sheer volume of guests, I knew this had legs, and we could make a run with it.”
Since then, Kettlemans has opened several new locations, including College Square and Trainyards as well as in Toronto and Montreal. Wahab’s vision for Kettlemans remains rooted in quality, with a focus on the same fresh bagels that have been a staple since day one.
Beyond bagels, Kettlemans has played an integral role in the Glebe community. Situated near Lansdowne Park, the original Kettlemans location became a pillar of the neighbourhood’s identity and a post-party-snack rendezvous for many a Glebe teenager. Wahab believes this connection with the community is part of what makes the business so special.
“Our people are amazing, and it’s them that make every single experience at Kettlemans what it is,” says the president. “It’s not just a community – it’s a village. Our guests and our team members are bigger than we ever will be.”
Over the years, Kettlemans has supported local schools and participated in events like Taste in the Glebe and community fundraisers. Wahab is also proud of the job opportunities the business provides, sharing stories of employees who have grown within the company.
“We’ve been huge supporters of the Glebe community,” he says. “It’s about more than just making bagels or even making money. It’s about creating jobs and watching our team members grow.”
While Kettlemans remains deeply connected to the Glebe, the business’s impact has spread far beyond Ottawa. Fans of Kettlemans have sent photos of their bagels from places as far away as Antarctica. Wahab proudly shares that Kettlemans bagels have travelled the world, and the feedback from global customers continues to inspire the company’s growth.
Wahab remains committed to ensuring that any expansion stays true to the company’s values. With possible plans for more locations across Canada, Wahab emphasizes the importance of maintaining the quality and authenticity that has defined Kettlemans for over three decades.
“It’s bread, at the end of the day, and bread has brought people together for centuries,” Wahab says. “It feeds into why Kettlemans is so magical. It’s because it’s honest, it’s simple and it’s good.”
To experience Kettlemans for yourself, visit the flagship location on Bank or one of the other locations in the city.
Dana Mitchell worked with the Glebe BIA as its Communications & Outreach Intern. She is a Glebe resident who is currently completing her PhD in English at Carleton University.