By Gina Horan
Jeff’s Bagel Run Draws Long Lines at New Villages Location
The lines were long all weekend at the opening of Jeff’s Bagel Run at The Villages Southern Trace Plaza, with customers waiting outside as doors opened and the pace holding steady through the morning and into the afternoon. “Hot bagels” could be heard from the many employees it took to handle the crowds.
The concept is built around a traditional method. Bagels are hand-rolled, kettle-boiled and baked fresh daily, giving them a crisp exterior and soft interior. The menu covers both sweet and savory options, from simple bagels with cream cheese to breakfast sandwiches. The flavors are also unique, with daily specials like churro, French onion soup and loaded baked potato.
Local resident Sam Dynes says he had been watching for the opening.
“I’ve been checking every week,” he says. “I love this style of cooking the bagels because they are always warm and the schmear is cold.”
Jeff’s Bagel Run started in Central Florida and has expanded through multiple locations, building a following around its straightforward approach and consistent product.
They are located in the Southern Trace Plaza at 3565 Wedgewood Lane in The Villages. Hours are 6:30am to 2pm daily. For more information, visit jeffsbagelrun.com.
Gina moved to Central Florida in August 2021 from the San Francisco Bay Area. She has a degree in linguistics and worked as a fashion editor, photo stylist lifestyle columnist and food writer for the Knight Ridder Newspaper Group. She also covered and photographed music festivals, fashion shows and sports throughout Northern California. In 2000, she joined KSAN radio as a morning show co-host and produced the news and sports content there for four years. She later covered travel, events and the restaurant scene for KRON-Bay TV. A veteran bartender, Gina has worked in hospitality on and off since high school. She has been with Akers Media since 2022 and hosts the Healthy Living Central Florida podcast. Her passions include travel, road trips, baseball, history books and podcasts, tasting menus and arriving in a new city without a map or guidebook.
