Daily drive worth it for this couple's bagel recipe in Pasco

A Bagel Dream Born in a Kitchen

What began as a simple request in a Wesley Chapel kitchen — “Can someone make me a homemade bagel?” — has evolved into a thriving business that’s capturing the hearts of locals and visitors alike. Tim Neal and Jaclyn Francese, a married couple, never intended to open a bagel shop. However, a request from Jaclyn’s mother sparked a culinary experiment that would change their lives forever.

Today, the couple runs Vito Rose Bagels, a new favorite at the Shoppes of Golden Acres off Little Road in New Port Richey. Months of hard work and long days have finally paid off, with the shop seeing a consistent flow of enthusiastic customers.

“We were completely swamped the first few weeks,” said Jaclyn. “We couldn’t be more thrilled.” Despite early challenges, such as a broken air conditioning system during their opening period, the shop opened on June 18 and has maintained a strong customer base. On Google, Vito Rose Bagels boasts a 4.9 rating out of 5, reflecting the quality and dedication behind every bagel.

From Garage to Shop

The success of their home-delivery bagel business, which operated almost entirely out of their garage, was what convinced them they were onto something special. The name Vito Rose Bagels comes from Jaclyn’s grandfather, and it all started with a simple request from her mother for a bagel.

Tim, who attended culinary school and was most recently a general manager for Chuck Lager restaurant in Tampa, decided to give it a try. The first attempt wasn’t great, but Tim didn’t give up. After several tries, he found the right recipe, and soon the garage was filled with various types of bagels.

Eventually, the couple started selling them out of their garage in Epperson for $1 each, just to clear space. Word spread quickly, and people wanted more. Tim kept baking, and soon he and Jaclyn started delivering. At their peak, they were making nearly 1,000 bagels a week and running more than two dozen deliveries daily.

A New Chapter

That success led to the idea of opening a shop. What was once a challenge keeping up with demand in Wesley Chapel has now become a daily routine of driving across Pasco County, sometimes leaving home as early as 3:30 a.m., to prepare bagels for their new customers in New Port Richey.

The daily schedule is demanding. The shop opens at 6 a.m. on weekdays and closes at 3 p.m., with slightly later hours on weekends. Despite the long hours, the couple finds joy in the connection with their customers.

“Almost daily, we talk to somebody who’s from New York, who’s been looking for a bagel shop like back home, and how they now have it,” Jaclyn said. One regular customer drives down from Spring Hill for his bagel fix and told Jaclyn, “I feel like I’m home again.” She smiled and replied, “You know what? This is the reason that we love being here, because we get to talk to you.”

Unique Flavors and Customer Favorites

Vito Rose doesn’t claim to make a New York-style bagel, but they do offer delicious bagels made with their own unique recipe. Customers can choose from a variety of flavors, including the top-selling Everything but the Bagel, cinnamon raisin, and sesame seed. They also offer specialty bagels with creative flavors like French toast, cheddar jalapeno, and sun-dried tomato pesto.

Bagels can be paired with classic spreads like cream cheese or enjoyed as one of 10 different sandwiches. The Francese sandwich, made with turkey, green apple, cheddar cheese, honey mustard, and arugula between a sliced three-cheese bagel, is Jaclyn’s favorite.

Occasionally, the shop offers limited-time flavors and specials through their social media pages. Coffee options are available to complement the menu.

Looking Ahead

While they still deliver a few rare orders around Wesley Chapel and Land O’ Lakes and stock some local coffee shops, their focus is currently on New Port Richey. Eventually, they hope to open another shop closer to home.

“But for now, we’re going to stay right here and finish getting everything perfect,” Jaclyn said. “Once we are perfect, we will see what is next.”

For more information about Vito Rose Bagels or to place an order, visit VitoRoseBagels.com or follow them on Facebook @vitorosebagels.