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Liberty Bagels faces pre-permit inspection at 24 West 23rd Street

Liberty Bagels faces pre-permit inspection at 24 West 23rd Street

Rule Changes New York, NY local

City data shows six violations and no posted grade at the former Wendy's address, with no permit decision on file

October 5th, 2026: Pre-permit inspection for Liberty Bagels at 24 West 23rd Street

Overview

Updated Oct 24

New York City's health department inspected Liberty Bagels at 24 West 23rd Street on October 5, 2026, and the visit left six violations on the record. The address most recently held a Wendy's, last inspected in January.

RatRadar, which republishes city inspection data, scores the location 42 for rodent risk, a level it labels high concern, and lists no posted letter grade for the address. It marks several of the findings as fixed on site. The city has not posted a food service permit decision for 24 West 23rd Street, so whether the shop can open there is unresolved.

Why it matters

Six inspection violations now sit on the record that will decide whether the former Wendy's on West 23rd Street becomes a Liberty Bagels.

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Key Indicators

22 days
Day after applying when a food business may open without a permit, if the city has not inspected yet
City rule bars operation without a permit for 21 days after an application is filed; operations may start on the 22nd day until an inspection rules.
6
Violations recorded at 24 West 23rd Street on October 5
Inspection record for the address shows six reported violations, several marked fixed on site, and no letter grade posted.
42
RatRadar rodent-risk score for the address, labeled high concern
Third-party tracker republishing city inspection data scores the location 42, with cross-contamination and separation as the largest contributor.

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Organizations Involved

Liberty Bagels
Liberty Bagels
Restaurant chain
Inspected October 5 at 24 West 23rd Street; six violations recorded, no permit decision posted

New York City bagel chain that hand-rolls and kettle-boils bagels.
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
City Health Agency
Inspected Liberty Bagels at 24 West 23rd Street; permit decision not posted

The city agency that inspects food businesses and issues food service permits.
Wendy's
Wendy's
Fast food chain
Previous occupant of 24 West 23rd Street

National fast food hamburger chain that previously operated at the address.

Timeline

2018 October 2026

3 events Latest: October 5th, 2026 · 1 month ago

  1. Pre-permit inspection for Liberty Bagels at 24 West 23rd Street

    Latest Inspection

    The health department conducts a pre-permit inspection, the step before the city issues a food service permit. Inspection data for the address shows six violations, several marked fixed on site, and no posted grade.

  2. Wendy's last inspected at 24 West 23rd Street

    Inspection

    City inspection records show Wendy's was the last occupant inspected at the address.

  3. Liberty Bagels founded in New York City

    Company

    The bagel chain begins hand-rolling and kettle-boiling bagels in the city.

Scenarios

1

City grants Liberty Bagels a food service permit for 24 West 23rd Street

Likely Resolves by Jan 31, 2027

Discussed by: NYC Open Data permit records; routine pre-permit inspections typically resolve with a permit when no violations require correction.

The pre-permit inspection clears without findings that require further correction, and the city issues a food service permit for Liberty Bagels at the address. The permit would appear in the public permit dataset as an official approval for the location.

2

Inspection findings delay or block the permit

Possible Resolves by Jan 31, 2027

Discussed by: NYC Department of Health inspection process

The pre-permit inspection surfaces violations that require corrections or a follow-up inspection, holding up the food service permit past the usual timeline or stopping it entirely. The address would show inspection findings or a repeat inspection rather than an issued permit.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

2004

Shake Shack's Madison Square Park start (2004)

Danny Meyer's Union Square Hospitality Group set up a hot dog cart in Madison Square Park in 2001, and by 2004 it became a permanent kiosk serving burgers and shakes. The stand drew long lines and grew into a global chain.

Then

The cart became a permanent shack and a neighborhood destination.

Now

Shake Shack expanded to hundreds of locations worldwide.

Why this matters now

Madison Square Park sits blocks from 24 West 23rd Street. Liberty Bagels is also a local New York brand expanding within the city, following a similar path from a single operation into a chain.

1972

H&H Bagels' rise (1972)

H&H Bagels opened on Manhattan's Upper West Side in 1972 and became one of New York's best-known bagel shops, famous for hand-rolled, kettle-boiled bagels.

Then

H&H became a neighborhood institution and a symbol of New York bagels.

Now

The shop closed and reopened in different forms, showing how bagel landmarks rise and change across the city.

Why this matters now

Liberty Bagels cites the same hand-rolled, kettle-boiled method and positions itself in New York's bagel tradition. The permit record shows the chain establishing another location in that tradition.

Sources

(5)
NYC Open Data Liberty Bagels RatRadar New York City Health Code Commercial Observer