‘Personal decision’ for Hobart bagel bakery, Bury Me Standing, to shut up shop

Hobart’s go-to place for bagels, sandwiches and baked goods will close in December, the owners believing it’s time for a “new chapter”. Why they’re closing.

Alesha Peckels co-owner of the business that is run with her husband Cohen. Bury Me Standing in Hobart is set to close after over a decade in business. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

It’s the end of an era for Hobart’s loved bagel hotspot Bury Me Standing, with husband-wife owners Cohen Bassingthwaite and Alesha Peckels deciding it is time for a new chapter after 12 years of business.

The pair opened their Bathurst Street bakery cafe back in 2012 after finding popularity selling their vegetarian, vegan and Polish goods from the nearby ABC Hobart studios.

Co owners of Bury Me Standing cafe Alesha Peckels and Cohen Bassingthwaighte at their Cairns store. Picture: Brendan Radke

Another location was opened in October 2021 in Cairns, close to home for Queensland-born Cohen.

The end of their Hobart lease in May this year prompted the couple to reconsider the distance between both of their businesses for their family.

“We don’t live down here anymore and so the commute down to Tasmania from Queensland to work is hard, especially for our young kids,” Ms Peckels said.

“When our lease ended and we hesitated in renewing it, I think Cohen and I both took it as a sign for the next chapter of our lives.”

The “personal decision” didn’t come easy for the pair, especially following their announcement on social media earlier this week of the final day of trade on December 3, which brought an outpouring of love, support and sadness from their loyal customer base.

Cohen Bassingthwaite, with his wife Alesha Peckels, who run Bury Me Standing Bagel.

“We were really worried initially about how it would be received by the public,” Ms Peckels said.

“Seeing people’s stories, messages of support, well-wishes and the love in general has been incredibly emotional and overwhelming – we feel like we are a part of a family.”

Ms Peckels, originally from the US, said the ability to permanently relocate to Cairns and focus on their family and business is the “fresh start they need”.

Some diehard fans are eager to grab recipes for much-loved dishes, like the cashew schmear, before the couple depart Tasmania – Ms Peckels confirming a cookbook is in the works.

“I’ve always wanted and planned to do a cookbook of all of our recipes, but never had the time – now, there might finally be time,” she said.

Cohen and Alesha will be in Hobart for their final day on Sunday, December 3, saying a final farewell to their original Bury Me Standing premises and patrons.