For nearly 50 years, Marian’s Bagels has been the kind of spot you have to know about to love. Tucked into a Plantation shopping center, the no-frills Jewish deli has built a loyal following with its classic bagels, schmears, and tuna salad that regulars swear by. So popular, in fact, that it was recently named one of New Times’ 9 Best Bagels in Fort Lauderdale. But after half a century in business, the beloved institution is facing an uncertain future.
According to a voluntary petition submitted on August 22, L & D Cafe, Inc., which operates as Marian’s Bagels, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the Southern District of Florida (Case No. 25-19748). The filing allows the restaurant to continue serving while it attempts to restructure debts that could total as much as $10 million. According to the petition, the company has fewer than 50 creditors and assets valued at less than $50,000.
Major creditors include Alan M. Winter and Robin Winter, co-trustees of the Alan M. Living Trust, who hold a $400,000 corporate guaranty claim. Other creditors range from local suppliers such as Romano’s Bakery of Boca, Inc. ($28,404) and FSM Foods International ($10,780) to an $8,251 balance on the restaurant’s American Express Business Card.
While Chapter 11 is designed to help small businesses reorganize and continue operating, the filing casts a shadow over one of Plantation’s longest-running restaurants. Since 1975, Marian’s has been more than just a bagel shop — it’s been a community gathering place, where locals head for a quick breakfast before work, retirees linger over coffee, and generations of Broward residents return for the same comfort food they grew up with…