Time Square to close soon

• Time Square

Echo Press photo by Lowell Anderson The sign at Time Square in Alexandria thanked customers for their business.

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After nearly 13 years, Time Square Bagels on 22nd Avenue West in Alexandria is closing.

The owners, Wally and Roxanne Tischer, have posted a sign on the door stating the restaurant’s last day has been set for this Sunday, February 7.

However, in a phone interview Monday, Wally Tischer noted it would likely be Friday or Saturday that the doors will close for good because he doesn’t think there will be enough product to get through Sunday.

The Tischers owned the restaurant for the past seven years. They bought it from Rose Virnig, who opened the coffee and bagel shop in 1997.

During their time with Time Square, the Tischers changed things up a bit by adding new food options to the menu, including Chicago-style hot dogs and New York-style pizza.

As for why they decided to close, Tischer said it had everything to do with economics. “Time Square, just like many other restaurants, faced challenging times,” he said.

He added that it’s hard for a restaurant, which makes fresh-baked goods daily that cost a little more, to compete with other restaurants. “You can’t buy fresh-baked goods for a dollar,” said Tischer.

The restaurant employed up to 24 workers, which made it hard to shut its doors.

“This is very painful because it’s a part of this community,” Tischer said of the restaurant. “We want to thank our wonderful employees and our fantastic customers.”

He added that everyone – his employees, his customers and the community – helped make Time Square what it was – a great restaurant. “That’s really the toughest part for Roxanne and I.”

He commented on the location of the restaurant, which he called “absolutely awesome,” because it’s in one of the highest-count traffic areas in Alexandria.

“Our vision is to have someone come in and buy it and keep it going. That would really please us,” he said. “It would be ideal.”

Tags: local news, time square, news, alexandria, bagels, tischer, restaurant