His first business was The Hip Bagel. For Shelly Fireman, a legendary restaurant empire followed.

Shelly Fireman, the legendary New York City restauranteur who parlayed a bagel shop he opened in 1963 into an influential restaurant empire, was coming up with new business ideas until the week he died.

“Shelly was incredible,” recalled Fireman’s longtime friend and business partner Bill Berkley on Wednesday. “Roughly five days before Shelly passed away, he called me up, and said, ‘I’m so tired. By the way, how are you feeling, Bill?’ I said, ‘I’m OK, thanks, Shelly, how are you?’ He says, ‘I’m so f–king tired. I don’t know why! But I’m working on a new menu, and I have an idea for a new restaurant location. Maybe we can talk next week. I’ll see you shortly.’”

Berkley shared the recollection at a memorial event held at Fireman’s Midtown seafood restaurant Redeye Grill, where hundreds of