Crestline Bagel: Inside the Doughy and Delicious Birmingham Bagel Bakery

Sixteen years ago, Jennifer and Ralph Yarbrough would stroll down to their local bagel shop with their Rhodesian Ridgeback, Ace. Jennifer would order Ace his favorite cheese bagel, and as they enjoyed their morning, Jennifer’s imagination would wander. Like any true creative, Jennifer saw the bagel shop not for what it was but for what it could become. Back then, it was a simple business model. It was your ordinary bagel and cream cheese joint — and luckily for Ace, there were cheese bagels, too.

Ralph could see Jennifer’s vision and decided to do something about it. He approached the owner, but the bagel shop was not for sale. Not one to be deterred, Ralph called the owner once a year. Each year, the answer was no. On the fifth year, the answer changed. Finally, it was a yes.