It’s still dark outside when Brad Nadborne, aka Lefty, and his baking crew arrive at Lefty’s Righteous Bagels to begin making 750 bagels for the day. The sun may not have risen yet, but the dough has.
Nadborne, who grew up on the Northshore, is a self-proclaimed bagel lover. But it was on a family trip to Montreal and their iconic bagel bakeries where his passion really took off.
“We went into this bagel shop to get breakfast and ate a dozen bagels in no time flat,” said Nadborne. “It was one of those foodie experiences that just stayed with me.”
Throughout his life, Nadborne had a variety of careers. He worked as a college basketball coach at multiple schools, he practiced law and traded commodities at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.
When COVID hit, Nadborne, being the bagel lover that he is, began making bagels at home.
“I started selling them as a cottage industry to restaurants and coffee shops,” said Nadborne. “That was when I realized that I definitely want to pursue this.”
Nadborne hooked up with a small architectural firm in Chicago in order to carry out his dream.
“The firm was not only professional but also knowledgeable and very supportive. I was very fortunate to have great support.”
Located at 827 Chicago Ave., across from the Main Street L stop, Lefty’s soft-opened in July to rave reviews.
“LRB has exceeded my expectations! Considering this is the owner’s first shot at a business, he’s taking extremely serious measures to ensure he’s putting out quality products!” said Jenn N on Yelp.
The space is open and airy with exposed brick and includes a large, curved coffee bar with a window for quick pick-ups for people rushing to the train. Nadborne’s light and humorous personality shines through in the decor. On a white wall behind the oven, “You’ve come to meet your baker” is written in big, black letters and the opposite wall reads “Not your grandpa’s bagels.”
Coming up with a name for the bagel shop was simple for Nadborne.
“I named it Lefty’s because I am left-handed. It’s nothing but a silly play on words which is left, lefties, and right, righteous.”
Nadborne knew his bagels had to taste like the ones he had in Montreal, which are hand-rolled, honey-boiled, and wood-fired creating a unique crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside taste.
Currently, Lefty’s offers four main doughs: plain, rosemary, jardiniere and cinnamon but they offer a variety of schmears and spreads.
“Those are just the doughs,” said Nadborne. “But we have everything. Plain, sesame, poppy, sesame, garlic and more. I mean, it’s bagels. Let’s have fun with it.”
Prior to opening Lefty’s, Nadborne had a variety of careers. He worked as a college basketball coach at multiple schools, he practiced law and traded commodities at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.
Orli Schwartz, a senior at ETHS and an employee at Lefty’s, loves her job and says it feels almost like a second home.
“Lefty’s is so neighborly and comfortable,” said Schwartz. “We already know all of our regulars. People are bumping into each other and talking, and everyone who works here or is coming in here cares and wants to be present.”
That environment was Nadborne’s goal.
“Brad will go and talk to every person who walks in the door,” added Schwartz. “He’s outside holding someone’s dog while they’re getting a bagel.”
Nadborne added, “When I started the journey with the architects, I told them I wanted a place where I wanted to be, a place where you could sit in the window, a place where you could see the bagels being made. People come in and tell us they feel really welcome and comfortable here.”
