A family-run bagel shop has opened its doors at 475 N. Franklin Turnpike in Ramsey, bringing hand-rolled bagels baked fresh daily along with sandwiches and spreads built around the owners' Italian roots. Knockout Bagels is co-owned by Maria Ruggiero, her father, her brother and her fiancé, marking the family's first venture into the bagel business.
Ruggiero told northjersey.com that the family wanted to create a neighborhood staple residents would return to for generations. The menu leans heavily into that family story, including the Capo Donato sandwich, named for Ruggiero's father — capo translates to boss in Italian, according to the same report.
A Spread Rooted in Family Summers Abroad
Beyond the sandwiches, Knockout Bagels makes its own Nutella-style spread, inspired by summers Ruggiero and her family spent in Italy. She said sharing the spread with customers brings back fond family memories, part of a broader effort to infuse the shop's Italian heritage into its sandwiches and specialty spreads.
Getting the shop open wasn't simple. Ruggiero said the family's main challenge was navigating the learning curve from construction to perfecting the shop's design, and that they obsessed over every detail to match their vision — a process that included going before Ramsey's Design Review Board. Municipal meeting minutes show the board approved a 20-square-foot illuminated acrylic façade sign and a 9-square-foot illuminated acrylic ground sign for the business in late January, both finished in off-white and blue, according to ramseynj.com.
Early Buzz Builds Around the Opening
Months before the storefront opened, the shop was already generating local buzz. A write-up from boozyburbs.com described plans to serve New York-style bagels alongside coffee from Porto Rico Importing Co., under the tagline “Bagels With Attitude,” with an emphasis on early-morning preparation and taking pride in each batch.
That anticipation appears to have translated into real foot traffic. Ruggiero said the Ramsey community has responded warmly, with customers telling her they had been waiting for the shop to open and were glad it was finally there. She added that the response has made the effort worthwhile.
Looking Ahead Without Losing the Neighborhood Feel
For now, the family's immediate priority is establishing Knockout Bagels as a neighborhood favorite without sacrificing its quality or family atmosphere. Ruggiero said the family hopes the shop will serve the Ramsey community for generations and is focused on earning its place in town first.
Still, the owners aren't ruling out growth. The family hopes eventually to expand to other locations, though no timeline or specific sites have been announced. For now, the focus stays on the original storefront on North Franklin Turnpike, where hand-rolled bagels and an Italian family recipe are doing the talking.
