Take a Bite Out of Sharky's Bagels

Chris and Michele Potavin always dreamed about owning their own business.

For Michele, she wanted a restaurant. Her husband, Chris, wanted a bagel shop. This past June, their collaborative dream was born with , which specializes in bagels, breakfast and lunch sandwiches.

“For us our was to do something we both enjoy, to want to go to work each morning” said Michele, who grew up watching her parents work hard running a successful pool business in South Jersey.

Mornings for Michele start at 4:30 a.m. these days (a bit earlier than her wake-up call in her former career as a sixth-grade teacher in East Brunswick). Chris still works at JP Morgan during the week and then at Sharky’s on the weekend.

“I love being my own boss and knowing that the hard work I put into Sharky’s will be returned to me,” Michele said.

Michele and Chris worked with another bagel store owner to learn the craft of baking the perfect bagel. And they chose their location, in Chews Landing Plaza at the intersection of Chews Landing and Somerdale roads because of its tendency to be busy (Wawa is right next door).

“There was no bagel store in this area,” said Michele, who noted that since their June opening business has been consistent and steady— Sharky’s is even starting to get a contingency of regulars.

Sharky’s features 21 different varieties of bagels made fresh daily. Plain and everything bagels are popular, as are the more unique bacon, egg and cheese (an egg bagel topped with cheddar and bacon), french toast and jalapeno-cheddar. Michele’s current favorite is the chocolate-chip bagel.

And, of course, you cannot have a bagel without cream cheese. There are eight different cream cheese options including scallion, everything (all the toppings from an everything bagel mixed with cream cheese) and a seasonal variety, which for now is strawberry. In the fall, look for pumpkin cream cheese on the menu.

In addition to the traditional bagel with a smear, Sharky’s also offers a breakfast and lunch menu (offered all day).  The menu is shark-themed (Chris is a shark buff) and includes breakfast entrees like the Shark Attack, a bagel topped with double egg, double cheese and double meat.

There is also a healthy option: Lite Bite, which is a scooped-out bagel with egg whites and Swiss cheese. Lunch includes a wide array of deli sandwiches (I can fully recommend the Jaws, a turkey BLT with dijon spread). All sandwiches can be served as a wrap or on a bagel.

Someday, the duo would love to open additional locations, maybe expand delivery options and look to launch special promotions in the future.

Sharky’s Bagels is located at 4 Somerdale Rd. Hours are Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.