ORANGE PARK - It's true that there's a Park Avenue in Orange Park and New York City.

One is known for its hustle and bustle. The other is surrounded by a soft-pace lifestyle. But among the sharp differences, there's one thing that makes them similar. The bagels.

Park Avenue NY Bagels, at 1177 Park Ave., aims to bring a piece of the big Apple to Orange Park. In what some customers have called the real deal and a piece of home, owners Leonardo and Claudia Albarracin are continuing to pack the spread.

From Asiago, Pizza Tuscan and Jalapeño flavored bagels to eclectic variations like Rainbow and Chocolate Chip, each menu item is authentic and meant to remind customers of an experience they've had in the big city.

Bagels are shipped directly from New York and baked in-house, creating a fresh taste for every batch. Soft water from New York is often credited with the taste of the city's bread.  Leonardo said that's what makes the products at Park Avenue NY Bagels so special. 

"There's something about the New York water that people claim for. They're always talking about the water," he said.

Originally from Miami, Claudia and Leonardo moved to Jacksonville a few years ago. Leonardo said starting a business together had always been in the back of their minds. Although they almost opened a Colombian restaurant in Miami, they said the bagel shop was what felt right.

And while they had exposure to bagels in Miami, it wasn't the true New York-style Claudia, who had lived in New Jersey, had been looking for. 

Moving wasn't an easy decision, Claudia said. But even as senior pastors with two children about to enter college, they still had a rental lease about to expire. And despite sadness from leaving the place they'd called home for so long, they pushed through.

"The opportunity was presented to us and we prayed about it," Claudia said. "We felt from the Lord that this was a door that the Lord [had] opened to us. So, we decided to take the opportunity.

"We left church, we left family, we left our kids, everything to start a new life. We are not 20 years old, you know. So, it was hard."

Taking multiple trips to Miami, they said it was a process to prepare the shop for opening day. What was supposed to only be a month, took them an entire year.

"We ran into some issues at the beginning, like almost every entrepreneur has, those types of stories where they think that they're jumping into something that may be easy to take on. But then you find out during that time that it's not as easy as you thought it would be," Leonardo said.

They painted, cleaned and decorated the building, doing most of the physical legwork themselves. They opened in 2024 as Holey Moley NY Bagels with nothing but a drink machine and a few tables, Leonardo said. Overwhelming, but patient, crowds lined the shop on the first day.

"There were people lining up here. We had 15–20-minute delays on something that could take five minutes to do. It was crazy," Leonardo said.

Since then, the two said it's been a road of improvement every day. The walls are now lined with NYC paintings and memorabilia. And the empty space has been transformed into a small dining cafe. 

Bestsellers include the salmon-based Lox and the Chopped Cheese. The classic bacon, egg and cheese is also a familiar hit with customers. And in addition to bagels, the shop also offers an assortment of muffins, fresh juices and coffee from locally roasted beans.

Each person that has walked through the doors has become family, Claudia said.

While the Albarracins serve the community within the walls of Park Avenue NY Bagels, the work doesn't stop there. 

When the two aren't in the kitchen, they're continuing their mission of pouring back into the community. As a part of Grace Ministries Without Walls, they go out every Wednesday to deliver more than 150 meals to unhoused communities. They also make fresh meals with Springs Church and participate in the clothing ministry.

"It's pretty rewarding. That's what matters. I think it's really rewarding when you see people's faces," Leonardo said.

With plans to add new espresso options, an assortment of merchandise and new pastry items to the menu, Leonardo said the best is yet to come. The ribbon on the shop will officially be cut, with the help of the Clay County Chamber of Commerce, during a special ceremony on Tuesday, June 30, at 11:30 a.m.

"We have something good. I want to be known in Orange Park as the bagel shop of the town," Claudia said.