Circles Turns One – A Love Letter from The Spark

One year ago, Circles Bagels opened in the cafe of The Spark of Hudson building. What started as a weekend pop-up slinging sourdough bagels out of Lil Deb’s and other borrowed kitchens has, in just twelve months, become a true community anchor. And we at The Spark got to watch it happen from the front row.

And we didn’t just watch — we got to roll up our sleeves and figure it out together.

When Circles moved into The Spark building last spring, our community space was also brand new. The paint was barely dry. We didn’t even have a full Certificate of Occupancy yet — just a temporary one that let us open the first floor, specifically so Circles could operate. That’s how much we believed in what they were building.

Just this week our team was reminiscing about those early weeks. Tepper was cooking outside in the courtyard under a tent because the kitchen wasn’t ready. One weekend morning, the tent blew away in a storm. I came down with Liz at 7am to help figure it out — sopping wet, laughing, hustling to hold it all together. That was the vibe: scrappy, joyful, collaborative. And it still is.

Circles was our very first incubator partner. We provided space and equipment; they brought soul, warmth, and a recipe that somehow made bagels taste like belonging. Our founders, Gigi Danziger and Albert Wenger, are no strangers to supporting small businesses – they've done it in Hudson and around the world, with the kind of long-view generosity that helps real things take root. Circles is a beautiful example of that ethos in action.

But here’s what I didn’t expect: how deeply we would grow through hosting Circles — especially when it comes to the young people we serve.

When we launched the Youth Apprenticeship Program last year, Circles said yes without hesitation. Chef Tepper welcomed local high school students into his kitchen with real trust and enthusiasm — not just teaching them, but inviting them to lead.

I’ll never forget the day one of our apprentices, Moriah, developed a recipe for a new menu item. Instead of tweaking or “fixing” it, Tepper helped her test it, taste it, and then actually ran it as a special. She got to see people buy and enjoy something she made — an experience that can change how a young person sees themselves.

That’s the kind of mentorship that matters. That’s community.

Circles didn’t just find a home at The Spark — they’ve helped us build one. From cheering us on in new programs to helping us reimagine what our space can be, we’ve grown together through a year of intense experimentation and emergence.

It’s exactly what we hoped this building could be: a platform, a connector, a catalyst.

So if you’ve been looking for a sign to come visit… this is it. Come get a bagel stat!

And to Circles: Happy One Year. We love you.

Make sure to attend their one year party at The Spark of Hudson Roof Top on Monday, June 2nd from 4pm-8pm, as well as Circles on the Roof, a weekly happening on Mondays from 9am-3pm, where you can enjoy your bagel on The Spark of Hudson Sky Deck. Details below!

Caitie Hilverman
Executive Director, The Spark of Hudson