‘We’re hoping it's not closed for good’ say Beigel Shop customers as Brick Lane landmark remains shut

Customers of a famous Brick Lane bagel shop have shared their confusion after it appeared to have closed.

The 24-hour Beigel Shop at 155 Brick Lane, which dates back to 1855 and known fondly as the 'yellow one', suddenly closed on Tuesday.

The Daily Mail reported on Wednesday that an initial High Court writ of possession had been pasted on the inside of the shop.

The notice said the shop had been closed down and warned anyone entering the building would be charged for “trespass and criminal damage”.

This was then replaced with another sign saying that the premises was closed for “essential electrical maintenance” and hopes to reopen.

The shop’s website appears to have been deactivated.

On Thursday morning tourists and customers stopped at the Beigel Shop’s doors hoping to get their favourite salt beef beigel but were left disappointed and bewildered.

Maq, who works in the area, said: “I walked past the shop a bit earlier on and I saw there was a sign for essential electrical maintenance. Then I read that it had closed. There’s probably a bit more behind the story of why it's closed.”

James, who works on Brick Lane, said: “The sign has only come up in the last 24/48 hours. We’re hoping it opens up soon as this one is my favourite. We come here a lot so we’re hoping it's not closed for good.”

Normanlly open 24 hours a day, the current shop has existed in one form or another since two Israeli-born brothers took over what was then the Evering Bakery from the previous Israeli owners in 1987.

The shop was renamed as the ‘Beigel Shop’ in 2002 as a “nod to its yiddish origins”.

Before it disappeared, the brand’s website stated: “Founded in 1855, the Beigel Shop was the original and first beigel bakery to open on Brick Lane. Since then, this landmark institution has continued to provide the historic tastes and traditions of the Jewish East End, mixed with the flavours of an evolving multicultural community.”

When open the bakery produces over 10,000 bagels every weekend.

LondonWorld has contacted Thirsk Winton, the solicitor named on the High Court writ of possession letter for comment.