By Kim Anderson
HAVERSTRAW, NY — For Clever and Victoria Torres, Hole Shot Bagels is more than a breakfast spot on Route 9W. It is a family-run business built on high standards, hours of preparation, new ideas and a loyal customer base that, by their telling, has helped carry them through some of their toughest moments in their 13 years (and counting).
Now, for the second year in a row, Hole Shot Bagels is up for the prestigious BECSPK King award for the best Bacon Egg and Cheese sandwich in Rockland County. You can vote starting on Saturday, March 14th, by visiting BECSPK King on Instagram.
Challenges Overcome By Love
Speaking today with Rockland News during an interview on Mike and Tom in the Morning, the couple reflected on their 13-year journey operating Hole Shot Bagels in Haverstraw, where they say consistency and customer service remain at the center of everything they do. But there’s also one very special ingredient.
“We cook with a lot of love,” Clever Torres said. “If you cannot eat it, we won’t sell it. It has to be perfect.”
That approach has become part of the shop’s identity. During the interview, the Rockland News hosts sampled the eatery’s SOBO sandwich and its bacon, egg and cheese, praising both the flavor and freshness.
The couple said they first worked at the shop for about a year before buying the business. At the time, they saw potential in the location and believed they could grow it. That growth, they said, did not come easily.
“There were a lot of tears, a lot of wake-ups, and we’re here,” Victoria Torres said, describing the realities of small business ownership.
Over the years, Hole Shot Bagels has faced more than the usual challenges of running a neighborhood eatery. Clever Torres recalled that in 2015, a car crashed into the building, forcing the business to close for two months. Later came the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic. Each setback, they said, required them to rebuild.
“I told everyone, this is not going to stop us,” Clever Torres said. “We start from the beginning, from scratch again, zero down to zero, but we build up again.”
Recently, they endured multiple hours and days of frustration, as construction on route 9w continued throughout the summer and fall of 2025 – which affected the customer traffic, and led to a lot of wasted food that could not be salvaged.
The couple credited the local community with helping them endure. According to Victoria Torres, customers rallied around the business starting after the 2015 crash and continued to support them through difficult periods, and once again during the recent traffic challenges.
“They feel like family,” Victoria Torres said. “Sometimes customers make coffee for us when we’re busy. They clean the tables. Everybody says they feel like home.”
New Menu Options
That home-like atmosphere appears to be one of the qualities that has helped Hole Shot Bagels stand out in a crowded local food scene. The menu has expanded significantly since the early days, moving beyond breakfast staples to include specialty sandwiches, new bagel combinations and customer-inspired creations.
Clever Torres said Victoria often drives that innovation, paying attention to food trends and listening closely to customers’ preferences.
“She’s the brain for that,” Clever said. “Customers like that because you come here, you always have something new to try.”
Some menu items are even named after regulars. One sandwich was named for a police officer who ordered the same item every day, while others have been created around the tastes of repeat customers. During the interview, the hosts joked about a future “Rockland News sandwich.”
Even with the growing menu, the owners said they remain committed to the basics: fresh bagels, careful preparation and a willingness to make things right if an order misses the mark.
“If we make a mistake or you have the wrong sandwich, we always fix it,” Victoria Torres said. “We never give a bad attitude. We’re always happy to help everybody.”
Asked what they would say to someone who has never visited the shop, Clever Torres kept it simple. “Give us a chance,” he said. “Try my bagels and you won’t be disappointed.”
After 13 years in Haverstraw, the Torres family says that belief in their product — along with support from the community — is what continues to keep Hole Shot Bagels moving forward.
And let’s not forget that secret ingredient: A whole lotta love.
If you are interested in voting for Clever and Victoria Torres in the best BEC content, click on this link to visit the BECSPK_KING Instagram page.
