TACOMA, Wash. — A long line of customers eagerly awaited the reopening of Howdy Bagel in Tacoma on Wednesday morning. The first customer in line showed up two hours in advance.
It's the first time the restaurant has reopened since the tragic death of one of the business's co-owners, Jacob Carter. Carter was shot and killed in New Orleans while on vacation with his husband and Howdy Bagel business partner, Daniel Blagovich.
Before the store opened at 8 a.m., one of the employees came outside to offer hot coffee and chairs to people waiting in the line which stretched down the block.
Whitney Boyle and Cambria Florence waited in line for Howdy Bagel on the shop's grand opening day, and they decided to do so again Wednesday. It wasn't just the delicious bagels that kept these loyal customers returning.
"Their bagels are amazing, but also they're just incredible people who create this space that feels safe for everyone," Florence said. "When we heard about the awful, tragic loss, we were like, 'We have to be there. We have to support them on their first day back.'"
Boyle recalled feeling welcome in the shop every time she visited – she was unsurprised to see employees treating people with that same kindness despite their grief in the aftermath of Carter's death.
"It's consistent. There's never been a time that I've come that that love and support and caring and hospitality hasn't been shown here," Boyle said. "It doesn't surprise me that while they're grieving they're still the same people, because I think that's just who they really are."
Kristian Figueroa is another loyal customer of Howdy Bagel from the time Carter and Blagovich were selling their bagels at local farmers markets. He's continued to frequent the store since the business opened its brick-and-mortar location on South Tacoma Way in June 2023. He echoed other customers who spoke about Howdy Bagel's welcoming atmosphere that keeps them coming back.
"There's nothing else like it in town. It kind of has a special place in our hearts," he said.
Figueroa said he and other customers would have understood if the restaurant's staff decided not to reopen. Now that they've decided to do so, he expects the decision to be met with overwhelming support from the community.
"It speaks to the humanity of it all," he said. "No matter what decision they make going forward, however it turns out, we'll just support them the best we can."
In a post announcing Howdy Bagel's reopening, Blagovich himself said he initially could not have imagined reopening the store without Carter but described how the community's support bolstered him.
"Y'all have been so kind and encouraging," he wrote. "I really appreciate your tenderness and patience as we learn how to do this without Jake. Here is to Howdy, and to continuing Jake's love and light in any way we can."
Teen suspected in Carter's death awaiting charges in Louisiana
A 16-year-old boy believed to be tied to Carter's death was arrested in New Orleans in early January.
Carter was shot and killed on Jan. 5 near Bourbon and Kerlerec streets about 1:30 a.m., according to the New Orleans Police Department.
Shortly after Carter's death, they found a stolen Kia in Bayou St. John which they believed to be connected to the homicide.
Project NOLA assisted NOPD with its collection of crime cameras across the city, to help police identify the car of interest and the alleged suspect, Nola.com reported.
The suspect is still being held as a juvenile while the courts decide whether he'll be charged as an adult for Carter's murder. He was previously in custody in Jefferson Parish on unrelated charges.