Baltik's Bagel Founder Shares Secret to Bagel Success

Yero Rudzinskas reveals fan-favorite sandwiches and plans for expansion of his award-winning Richmond bagel shop.

Published on Feb. 1, 2026

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After years in finance and high-end kitchens, Yero Rudzinskas traded spreadsheets for bagels and opened Baltik's Bagel in Richmond, Virginia. His year-old shop won the People's Choice Award at New York City's Bagel Fest, beating out 25 other bakeries. Rudzinskas, who trained at the Culinary Institute of America and worked in Michelin-starred restaurants, believes a great bagel should have "an eggshell crust, dense body, custardy crumb, and a distinct snap." Baltik's uses multi-day fermentation and bakes fresh all day. The shop has expanded to include a bakery, sandwich shop, wholesale, and catering operations, all in a 1,500-square-foot space with 15 employees. Rudzinskas plans to open more locations in the right neighborhoods, but says finding prime real estate is a challenge as national chains eye Richmond's growing population.

Why it matters

Baltik's Bagel's success highlights the growing demand for high-quality, artisanal bagels in the Richmond area, which has historically been underserved by independent bagel shops. Rudzinskas' background in fine dining and his commitment to precision and community have helped Baltik's stand out in a crowded market. As national chains continue to expand in Richmond, Baltik's story shows that locally-owned, mission-driven businesses can thrive by focusing on quality, craft, and connecting with their neighborhoods.

The details

Rudzinskas, who has a background in finance and tech, was drawn to Richmond by his wife's University of Richmond roots. He applied Michelin-level precision to Baltik's Bagel, managing four businesses (bakery, sandwich shop, wholesale, and catering) in a 1,500-square-foot space with 15 employees. Baltik's uses multi-day fermentation and bakes fresh all day to achieve the perfect bagel texture, with an "eggshell crust, dense body, custardy crumb, and a distinct snap." The shop's menu includes creative flavors like rosemary bacon salt and apple cider with caramelized apple, as well as fan-favorite sandwiches like the Triple BLT and the River City Sunrise breakfast sandwich.

  • Baltik's Bagel opened in 2025.
  • In February 2026, Baltik's won the People's Choice Award at New York City's Bagel Fest.

The players

Yero Rudzinskas

The founder of Baltik's Bagel, who previously worked in finance and high-end kitchens before opening the award-winning bagel shop in Richmond, Virginia.

Baltik's Bagel

A year-old independent bagel shop in Richmond, Virginia that won the People's Choice Award at New York City's Bagel Fest in 2026.

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What they’re saying

“Just getting selected to compete was huge for us. We were eight months old when we were invited.”

— Yero Rudzinskas, Founder, Baltik's Bagel (wtvr.com)

“The next day, business tripled. By Tuesday morning there was a line out the door. It's been a wild ride.”

— Yero Rudzinskas, Founder, Baltik's Bagel (wtvr.com)

What’s next

Baltik's Bagel plans to open more locations in the right neighborhoods in Richmond, but finding prime real estate is a challenge as national chains continue to expand in the growing city.

The takeaway

Baltik's Bagel's success shows that locally-owned, mission-driven businesses can thrive in a competitive market by focusing on quality, craft, and community connections, even as national chains make expansion more difficult for independent operators.