After 32 years in business, Vicki and Charlie Ard sold Fill A Bagel’s Jenkintown and Oreland locations on March 16. The new owners took over the next day.
Flourtown residents for 35 years, the Ards’ journey began with their first Jenkintown lease in January 1994. They expanded their current space at 424 Old York Road in 1999 and opened their Oreland location in 2015.
Vicki, now 62, and Charlie, now 65 and mostly retired, said it was time to try something new.
“Change is hard, but it just felt right. We were approached by great people that were interested in keeping the name and staff, which is very, very important to us. One of the key things was making sure our long-term employees had a place to stay and retire,” Vicki said. “We have managers who have been with us for 27 years, 25 years, 24 years. They’re like our family.”
“We celebrate the holidays with our customers when they come pick up orders. We wish each other Happy New Year, Happy Mother’s Day, and Merry Christmas,” Charlie said.
A Mount Airy native and La Salle University grad, Charlie still takes care of the maintenance at the Oreland location. Vicki is shopping for potential next steps.
“I’d like to find a new path in the fall. I’m open to anything, but I want something that allows me to give back and make a difference,” she said. “My children live out of state, so Charlie and I have been able to visit them multiple times. We traveled with family to Germany, which was great. We visit more friends. I’m more available to help my mother, and as an only child, that’s important. I feel better and I look at things differently. I’m a killer cook so I’ve had more time in kitchen. I’ve always been a foodie.”
A north Jersey native and Johnson and Wales University grad, Vicki estimates their shops have won more than 60 awards over the years, including “Best of Philly” three times, a Reader’s Choice award, a 2023 Talk Award for outstanding customer service, along with “every bagel shop award out there.”
She also said she misses the sense of community the most.
“We got to know everyone. We’ve seen children grow. We’d had employees that have had kids who we’ve gone on to hire. We’ve had four siblings work with us over the years,” she said. “I miss our customers. That’s the hardest part of it. Someday I may just sit out front and talk to our customers to catch up.”
“We started Fill A Bagel after being told by Vicki’s dad that he couldn’t get a good bagel around here,” Charlie said. “No one wanted anything to do with us for the first six months. Now we sell thousands and thousands of bagels.”
“I want to thank our customers for all of their love and support. We encourage everyone to reach out. We’re still in the area,” Vicki said. “We encourage residents to shop small. Being a local business owner is hard work.”
New owners Michael Filandro and George Guhr are childhood friends who hope to continue Fill A Bagel’s legacy. Glenside Local will introduce them soon.
“Michael and George seem anxious to expand what we began. They wanted to buy a business that works with the community, so it’s a good fit for them,” Charlie said.
For more on Fill A Bagel Jenkintown and Oreland, you can visit their website.
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Photos: Vicki Ard