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Marc Zirogiannis holds a B.A. from Long Island University and a Juris Doctor from Hofstra University’s School of Law. Mr. Zirogiannis is a world renowned Business Development Consultant and writer. He is a former adjunct professor of paralegal studies and business at Hofstra University.
Mr. Zirogiannis and, his love, Soraya Rose have four sons, Daniel, Demetrios, Joseph and Sebastian. His oldest son is a member of the United States Armed Forces, currently stationed in Germany.
Mr. Zirogiannis has practiced the martial arts for over 25 years and earned a 2nd Dan under the supervision of Grandmaster Yeon Hwan Park in Levittown, New York. He has been active in practicing and teaching meditation for 10 years. He has published numerous books, eBooks, and Audio Books on a variety of subjects, and, is currently the lead correspondent for Tae Kwon Do Times, an international print publication.
He lectures on a variety of topics, including business development, personal development, and matters of the martial arts. His last novel, The Suffering of Innocents, was hailed by critics and readers as a triumph in dramatic fiction.
Reviewed by Maria Victoria Beltran for Readers' Favorite
The Rise and Fall of H&H Bagels by Marc Zirogiannis is a firsthand account of the company’s final years from the perspective of its National Business Manager, who was for a while the right-hand man of H&H Bagels owner Helmer Toro. The two meet unconventionally as inmates at Rikers Island prison where both of them were serving time as weekend warriors or prisoners who come and go on weekends. Learning about his background, Toro gave Zirogiannis a job offer he cannot refuse. What follows is a roller coaster ride that culminates in the dismantling of not only a business empire, but also the well-loved NYC Bagel eatery that has catered to the likes of President Obama and a list of who’s who in the United States of America and beyond. This is a story of a controversial man who fulfilled his American dream that tragically ends up in a contested five-year bankruptcy.
Marc Zirogiannis’ The Rise and Fall of H&H Bagels is an interesting read, not only because this NYC landmark is so popular that no less than President Obama lamented the closure of its iconic store in January of 2012, but also because it offers a glimpse into the mind of the controversial Helmer Toro. The real story behind the end of the iconic H&H Bagels is full of intrigues, questionable business deals and a business logic that defies convention. Helmer Toro wrestled the business from his brother and created a company that rose to great heights, but his questionable business practices led to his downfall. One cannot help but wonder, though, about his resilience in holding on to his empire that contributed to the dismantling of this beloved company. And to get the story from someone who is in the eye of the storm, so to speak, makes this book credible and difficult to put down.
