In 1984, Southern California-born Dennis Rael was inspired to combine his cultural legacy inherited from his Latin father and his Jewish mother. The jalapeño bagel he dreamt of soon became a delicious reality. He came to Arcata to build his business, remembering Humboldt’s beauty from his years at Camp Unalayee in the Trinity Alps. Forty-two years later, the multicultural Los Bagels Café (1061 I St. Arcata, 707-822-3150) he founded with Peter Jermyn and former partner Paul Hebb is a local institution with two additional locations (Old Town, 403 Second St., Eureka, 707-442-8525; the Depot at Cal Poly Humboldt, 1 Harpst St., Arcata, 707-826-5308). Over the years, Rael and Jermyn were joined by partners John Monahan and Travis May, who is also the general manager.
Susanville-born May and his wife moved to Humboldt almost 20 years ago so they could attend then Humboldt State University. He followed slug trails through campus and eventually found his way to Los Bagels — mind you, he wasn’t following banana slugs, but the crumb trail of the slug-shaped bagels everyone was eating. “I worked in food service during college, waiting tables, soaking up business management experience. My two loves were brought together by bagels,” May says.
Credit: Photo by Melissa Sanderson
Los Bagels had the right recipe for success. One of the main ingredients is the “bageleros” themselves who create and serve just what you want. “Every parent, and our children and grandchildren, have worked in the business or are working in it. Peter’s granddaughter was the first third-generation bagelero,” May says. “It’s fun to be part of a small community business [with] not only our families, but multigenerational employees whose parents worked here in 1980s and now they are here, too. Being able to make those opportunities for the next generation to get started.” And to become partners, like Monahan, who was the very first. With a great team in place, Rael and Jermyn were able to step back from day-to-day operations.
But the best part of Los Bagels is, of course, the bagels (boiled before baking, naturally). Have you tried the jalapeño bagels? And the hand-braided challah? The combination of Mexican and Jewish traditional baked yummies is unbeatable. Especially if the bagel isn’t round. Remember those slug-shaped bagels? May explains the lore of the slug, the most popular bagel and one born of a happy accident. “We named the bagel shaping machine Clink because when the cups come together, they clink. Sometimes they do not come together. One day this long slug looking thing came out and they threw everything on it.” The crunchy everything topping used that day was quickly dubbed Slug Slime, and it is the tastiest savory slime you will ever enjoy (you can pick up a bottle to take home, too). Clink is still a valued member of the team, so much so that it now has a team of its own. “There is no bagel-shaper machine repair person around, so our team troubleshoots to solve it. Sometimes it requires an emergency motor in the middle of the night. Knock wood — we have never missed a day of bagels in 42 years.” Just think of how many bagels they have made in those 15,000 or so days (holidays not included). Not to mention all those knishes, empanadas and gallons of freshly brewed coffee.
The Los Bagels team rolls up its sleeves for cultural community service in the coolest way. They celebrate Hanukkah, Rosh Hashanah and Mexican Independence Day with special menu items and more. But November is all about Día de los Muertos, a traditional Mexican and Central American holiday that commemorates and honors the dead. “We travel to Oaxaca to pick up beautiful sugar skulls made by third-generation artisans. We bring back goods to share with the Humboldt community along with [hosting a] community ofrenda,” or altar, says May. “Day of the Dead speaks to Los Bagels values, not just culture and food, but sharing with the community.”
Los Bagels community outreach includes partnering with Eureka High’s vocational program for internships. “We work with their fantastic coordinator Ron Perry,” says May, who adds he and Rael are excited to share about the Day of the Dead with students. “We present two workshops with the high school, making pan de muertos,” meaning “dead bread,” flavored with orange zest and anise, “with Eureka High LatinX Club, and go to elementary schools to give presentations. Dennis and I speak with high school and Cal Poly [Humboldt] marketing classes.” Their tasty public outreach goes beyond school walls. “We were at an authors festival with Jalapeño Bagels author Natasha Wing.” The book tells of a boy who blends his parents’ cultures together via food and is based on Rael’s own story.
“We really value community outreach and engagement as a big part of us being a member of the community.” They helped coordinate and put on the I Block Party this October, a fundraiser for Centro del Pueblo. This year was special as it was the 40th anniversary of this highly anticipated neighborhood event. Their food donations go to schools and groups, like keeping the volunteer PacOut Green Teams fueled as they clean up Humboldt. Los Bagels sponsors Humboldt Crabs Baseball and Cal Poly Humboldt sports. Both Rael and Jermyn serve on the North Coast Regional Land Trust board of advisors. May sings their praises, but he is most awed that he was in the room with Rees Hughes and Judy Hodgson (former North Coast Journal publisher) 15 years ago when Dennis Rael told them that the Humboldt Bay Trail must be built. Rael, he recalls, kicked off the grassroots group that culminated in a treasured addition to Humboldt’s glorious trail system.
Each partner followed his own trail to Los Bagels Café, yet all were brought together through their mutual love of cultural cuisine and community, and of Humboldt itself. May points out what makes Humboldt special to them: “We have such a wonderful lifestyle. We live in a beautiful area. I work with wonderful people. There is great food, hiking, biking, the ocean!” Most importantly, he says, “Humboldt is a wonderful place to raise my family. I believe I can speak for my partners in saying the same.”
Los Bagels
403 Second St., Eureka • (707) 442-8525
1061 I St., Arcata • (707) 822-3150
Cal Poly Humboldt • (707) 826-5308
losbagels.com
LosBagels1984
@los_bagels
This article appears in My Humboldt Life November 2026.