Published December 23. 2025 09:13AM
Visit 3 Men And a Bagel in Bethlehem, and you will find whimsical holiday scenes decorating the windows.
Emily Zacharda, 85, has been window painting for 20 years. Her friend Jean has been helping her for five years. Emily said, “I’ve been painting for years and years. I started with the Borough Hall in Catty (Catasauqua).” She paints the 3 Men And a Bagel shops in Bethlehem (3350 Schoenersville Road) and Trexlertown (7150 Hamilton Blvd). “Every year the bagel shop calls and asks me if I am still doing it. I say, ‘I’m still alive!’ It’s such fun!”
The designs on the Bethlehem windows can be seen from inside and outside the shop. On the side windows, a progression of building a snowman takes place. On the front windows, figures with lanterns guide.
Press photos by Lani GoinsEmily Zacharda perches on a counter as she paints the front windows at 3 Men and A Bagel on Schoenersville Road in Bethlehem.
A progression of snowman building graces the side windows at 3 Men and A Bagel. Here is the beginning of the snowman.
The finished snowman, and a glimpse of Emily’s sketch on the window ledge inside the shop.
3 Men And a Bagel on Schoenersville Road. You can see more of Emily’s paintings at their location in Trexlertown.
