Inside Bagel Bros on Yarm High Street with owner Nick Perks

But what the 52-year-old didn’t expect was falling in love with a small town called Yarm – and a little shop on the High Street called Bagel Bros. 

And when the opportunity came for the dad-of-two to take over the shop in May 2024, he jumped at the chance.

It’s now nearly been two years since the 52-year-old took the reins – and after months of stress and sleepless nights, he’s now seeing a bagel boom, with sales and visitor numbers on the rise. 

Nick is now preparing to expand the shop upstairs with a new comfy seating area as the firm goes from strength to strength. 

Bagel Bros owner Nick Perks (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

But it hasn’t all been plain sailing – with Nick still having to work in the construction sector, where he has for several years, while he steadies the waters.

“I really feel like we have turned a corner”, Nick tells The Northern Echo on a sunny Monday morning, in between serving up ‘breccy’ bagels (a best seller) to hungry punters.

“The last three months have been amazing and we are getting regulars now and that is nice. 

“The sales have increased through the week which has massively helped as well.” 

Bagel Bros, on Yarm High Street (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

Nick’s move to the region was a temporary one initially, and in no way related to serving up bagels from a shop on Yarm High Street. 

Originally from Blackpool, he came to the North East to train with his friend turned Teesside McDonald’s entrepreneur Dean Fitzmaurice for the “world’s toughest” rowing challenge. 

It was something the group had decided to do sitting around a table in the very early hours of one Sunday morning – maybe after a glass of red wine or two. 

After around two years of planning and training, Nick, Dean, and two others row a staggering 3,000 miles across shark infested waters from the Canary Islands to the Caribbean, raising around £250,000 for charity.

Nick with his rowing team (Image: McDonald’s)

Dean had been asking Nick to do some building work at one of his McDonald’s – but it was when he was over here training that a bagel-shaped opportunity arose. 

Bagel Bros, originally launched in 2023 by Ben Draffan in the former LM Beauty shop, was up for sale – and Nick decided to take a punt. 

“I thought this was going to be less work. It is harder in hospitality than in building”, Nick, who previously served in the army before working as a fireman, admitted. 

“Moving to Yarm was temporary to train with Dean and do a house up but then move back to Blackpool. But I fell in love with Yarm. 

Bagel Bros, on Yarm High Street. Owner Nick Perks with staff Sam Kempster and Mara Morrison (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

“And I absolutely love it – even for the hard work and stress.

“I feel like I am more chilled and relaxed here; when I am building I want things done to perfection but this has tested me.

“People say to me that I have got to be in here. I would say I have been in it a lot more [recently]. I have got a really good team and I think having the right team has massively helped.”

Among the close-knit team is Sam Kempster, who said the group are relaxed but very hard-working. 

The 23-year-old, who has worked at the shop for seven months, said: “Me and Nick have gotten very close very quickly because we have worked together so much. 

“In terms of footfall, we are seeing a massive rise. 

Bagel Bros, on Yarm High Street (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

“We have a group of students who come down and always order the same thing and at lunch times we have many members of staff from the businesses on the high street and from Preston Farm too.” 

Mara Morrison, 16, who started working at the shop last September, added that everyone had been “really nice” since the moment she joined. 

Nick Perks with staff Sam Kempster and Mara Morrison (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

And since Nick took over, Bagel Bros has had an all American revamp, with New York murals now adorning the walls. 

He has also given the menu a bit of a refresh, keeping old favourites and adding new twists.

From the sexy chick (hummus, cucumber, beef tomato, red onion, rocket, vegan cheese and olives) to the holey cow (cured pastrami, pickles, rocket, American mustard, and Emmental cheese), Nick says everyday brings a different best seller from the menu.

It’s also now serving up its own matcha tea, jumping on the trend with six different flavours.

Bagel Bros, on Yarm High Street (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

The size of the shop means Bagel Bros doesn’t have the space to make its own bagels – but Nick said he, and the punters, are incredibly happy with supplier Country Valley’s bread. 

And as the shop continues to grow in popularity, Nick is now spending time revamping the upstairs space to make an indoor seating area. 

He said: “When I first took over, one of the things we talked about was tackling the whole upstairs.

Bagel Bros, on Yarm High Street (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

“The next step now is we have been given permission to knock a couple of walls out upstairs, it is basically the same size as this but a little bit larger. 

“It effectively doubles the space inside and we will be rearranging the kitchen again. It is just time, we are hoping it will be done for Easter.” 

Bagel Bros, on Yarm High Street (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

Nick hopes there will come a point where he can stop building work on the side and focus 100 per cent of his time into the bagel empire. 

“We do want to open more shops”, he said. “We have, in principle, been approved in another town. We are interested in Darlington, Durham, and the Northallerton area.”

However, Nick said he’ll only move when he’s ready: “I don’t want to lose this brand.“