UNITED STATES

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Filed by the Registrant                              [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant           [  ]

Check the appropriate box:
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           Rule 14a-6(e) (2))
[  ]     Definitive Proxy Statement
[  ]     Definitive Additional Materials
[  ]     Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 140-11(c) or Rule 240-2


                    NEW WORLD COFFEE - MANHATTAN BAGEL, INC.
                (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

         ---------------------------------------------------------------
    (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

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[X]      No fee required.



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                    NEW WORLD COFFEE - MANHATTAN BAGEL, INC.
                             246 Industrial Way West
                           Eatontown, New Jersey 07724

                    NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

     To the Stockholders of New World Coffee - Manhattan Bagel, Inc.:

     A special  meeting  of the  stockholders  of New World  Coffee -  Manhattan
Bagel,  Inc,  a  Delaware  corporation,  will  be  held on  September  12,  2001
commencing at 9:30 a.m. at the Company's  offices  located at 246 Industrial Way
West,  Eatontown,  New Jersey  07724.  The  meeting is called for the  following
purposes:

     1. To consider  and vote upon a proposed  amendment to our  Certificate  of
Incorporation to increase the authorized  Common Stock from 50,000,000 shares to
150,000,000 shares.

     2. To consider  and vote upon a proposed  amendment to our  Certificate  of
Incorporation to change our name to New World Restaurant Group, Inc.


     3. To consider  and vote upon a proposed  amendment to our  Certificate  of
Incorporation  to increase the maximum  number of directors from nine (9) to ten
(10).

     4. To approve  the  issuance  of  warrants  to  purchase  an  aggregate  of
13,720,000  shares of our  Common  Stock in  connection  with the sale of senior
secured  increasing rate promissory  notes and warrants to purchase an aggregate
of 42,950,564 shares of our Common Stock in connection with the sale of Series F
Preferred Stock, and the issuance of the underlying Common Stock for purposes of
the NASDAQ National Market listing of our Common Stock.


     5. To transact such other  business as may properly come before the Special
Meeting of Stockholders or any adjournments thereof.

     Stockholders  of  record  at the  close of  business  on July 30,  2001 are
entitled to notice of, and to vote at the Special Meeting of  Stockholders.  The
accompanying  form of proxy  is  solicited  by the  Board  of  Directors  of the
Company.  Reference  is  made  to  the  enclosed  proxy  statement  for  further
information with respect to the business to be transacted at the Special Meeting
of Stockholders.

     If you do not  expect to attend the  Special  Meeting  of  Stockholders  in
person,  please  sign and date the  enclosed  proxy and mail it  promptly in the
enclosed  envelope.  Sending in your proxy will not prevent your  attending  and
voting at the meeting in person should you later decide to do so.

                             By order of the Board of Directors.


                             Jerold E. Novack, Secretary

Dated:   August 22, 2001



                    NEW WORLD COFFEE - MANHATTAN BAGEL, INC.
                             246 Industrial Way West
                           Eatontown, New Jersey 07724

                                 PROXY STATEMENT

                                 August 22, 2001

     This proxy  statement is being mailed to  stockholders of record as of July
30, 2001 and is furnished in connection with the  solicitation of proxies by the
Board of Directors of New World Coffee - Manhattan  Bagel,  Inc. (the "Company")
for use at the  Special  Meeting of  Stockholders  of the  Company to be held on
September 12, 2001, commencing at 9:30 a.m. at the offices of the Company at 246
Industrial  Way West,  Eatontown,  New Jersey  07724.  Proxies  will be voted in
accordance  with directions  specified  thereon and otherwise in accordance with
the judgment of the persons  designated as proxy  voters.  Any proxy on which no
direction  is  specified  will be voted in favor of the action  described in the
proxy statement.

     A proxy in the enclosed form may be revoked at any time,  prior to it being
voted at the Special Meeting by sending a subsequently  dated proxy or by giving
written  notice  to the  Company,  in each  case to the  attention  of Jerold E.
Novack,  Secretary, at the address set forth above.  Stockholders who attend the
Special  Meeting may withdraw  their proxies at any time before their shares are
voted by notifying the Company at the meeting and voting their shares in person.

     The  expense of the  solicitation  of proxies  for the  Special  Meeting of
Stockholders,  including  the cost of  preparing,  assembling  and  mailing  the
notice,  proxy and proxy  statement,  the  handling  and  tabulation  of proxies
received and the charges of brokerage houses and other institutions, nominees or
fiduciaries  in forwarding  such  documents of the proxy  material to beneficial
owners,  will be paid by the  Company.  In  addition to the mailing of the proxy
material,  such solicitation may be made in person or by telephone and telegraph
by directors,  officers or regular  employees of the Company.  The total cost of
proxy solicitations by the Company will not exceed $7,500.


     The  matters  to be  considered  at the  Special  Meeting  of  Stockholders
include: (1) to approve a proposed amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation
to  increase  the  authorized  Common  Stock we are  authorized  to  issue  from
50,000,000 shares to 150,000,000  shares; (2) to approve a proposed amendment to
our  Certificate  of  Incorporation  to change our name to New World  Restaurant
Group,  Inc.;  (3)  to  approve  a  proposal  amendment  to our  Certificate  of
Incorporation  to increase the maximum  number of directors from nine (9) to ten
(10);  (4) to approve the  issuance of  warrants  to  purchase an  aggregate  of
13,720,000  shares of our  common  stock in  connection  with the sale of senior
secured  increasing rate promissory  notes and warrants to purchase an aggregate
of 42,950,564 shares of our common stock in connection with the sale of Series F
Preferred Stock, and the issuance of the underlying common stock for purposes of
the NASDAQ National Market listing of our common stock; and (5) to transact such
other  business  as  may  properly  come  before  the  Special  Meeting  or  any
adjournments  thereof.  The Company is aware of no other matters to be presented
for action at the Special Meeting of Stockholders.


                 OUTSTANDING VOTING SECURITIES AND VOTING RIGHTS


     Holders of Common  Stock at the close of  business on July 30, 2001 will be
entitled to vote. Each share of Common Stock entitles the holder to one (1) vote
on each  matter to be voted  upon.  On the record  date  there  were  17,457,970
outstanding shares of Common Stock (excluding any treasury shares), which is the
only class of voting stock outstanding.


                            MATTERS TO BE VOTED UPON

            PROPOSAL NO. 1: TO APPROVE AN AMENDMENT TO THE COMPANY'S
        CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO INCREASE AUTHORIZED COMMON STOCK

     The  Board  of  Directors  has  approved,   and  is   recommending  to  the
Stockholders for approval at the Special Meeting of  Stockholders,  an amendment
to the Company's  Certificate of  Incorporation to increase the number of shares
of Common  Stock  which we are  authorized  to issue from  50,000,000  shares to
150,000,000 shares. The Board of Directors has determined that this amendment is
advisable and should be considered at the Special Meeting of Stockholders.

Purposes and Effects of Proposed  Increase in the Number of Authorized Shares of
Common Stock


     The proposed  amendment would increase the number of shares of Common Stock
which we are authorized to issue from 50,000,000  shares to 150,000,000  shares.
The  additional  100,000,000  shares  would be a part of the  existing  class of
Common Stock and, if and when issued,  would have the same rights and privileges
as the shares of Common  Stock  presently  issued and  outstanding.  At July 30,
2001, 17,457,970 shares of Common Stock were outstanding,  and 60,884,182 shares
were  reserved for  issuances  upon  conversion of  convertible  securities  and
purchasable  upon the exercise or  outstanding  options and  warrants  including
those for which  approval is sought.  There is a shortfall in authorized  Common
Stock as of that date of 28,342,152  shares.  The Board of Directors believes it
is desirable to increase the number of shares of Common Stock we are  authorized
to issue by an  additional  100,000,000  shares to  provide  us with  sufficient
shares of Common Stock to be reserved for the  exercise of  outstanding  options
and warrants and to provide us with adequate flexibility in the future.


     The holders of our Common  Stock are not entitled to  preemptive  rights or
cumulative  voting.  Accordingly,  the issuance of  additional  shares of Common
Stock might dilute, under certain circumstances, the ownership and voting rights
of stockholders.  The proposed  increase in the number of shares of Common Stock
we are authorized to issue is not intended to inhibit a change in control of the
Company.  However,  the availability for issuance of additional shares of Common
Stock could discourage, or make more difficult, efforts to obtain control of the
Company.  For  example,  the  issuance of shares of Common  Stock in a public or
private  sale,  merger,  or similar  transaction  would  increase  the number of
outstanding shares, thereby possibly diluting the interest of a party attempting
to obtain control of the Company.  We are not aware of any pending or threatened
efforts  to  acquire  control  of  the  Company.  Amendment  to  Certificate  of
Incorporation

     If approved,  the first  sentence of Article  FOURTH of our  Certificate of
Incorporation would be amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

          FOURTH:  The total number of shares which the  Corporation  shall have
          the authority to issue is One Hundred Fifty Two Million (152,000,000),
          consisting of One Hundred Fifty (150,000,000)  shares of common stock,
          and Two Million  (2,000,000)  shares of  preferred  stock,  all of par
          value of $.001 per share.

Vote Required and Board Recommendation

     The  affirmative  vote of holders of a majority  of the shares  entitled to
vote at the Special  Meeting of Stockholders is required to approve the proposed
amendment.  THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS  RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT
TO THE COMPANY'S CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION


            PROPOSAL NO. 2: TO APPROVE AN AMENDMENT TO THE COMPANY'S
             CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO CHANGE THE NAME OF THE
                   COMPANY TO NEW WORLD RESTAURANT GROUP, INC.


     The Board of Directors has approved and recommends to the  stockholders for
their  approval an amendment to the Company's  Certificate of  Incorporation  to
change the name of the Company from "New World Coffee-Manhattan  Bagel, Inc." to
"New World Restaurant Group, Inc."

Purpose of Proposed Change of Name

     The  purpose of this  amendment  is to reflect the  broadened  scope of the
Company's  activities  after the  acquisition  by the  Company  of the assets of
Einstein/Noah  Bagel Corp. on June 19, 2001.  Management  believes that changing
the name of the  Company  will  appropriately  reflect the  Company's  expansion
through its acquisition of the Einstein/Noah business.

Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation

     If approved,  Article FIRST of our  Certificate of  Incorporation  would be
restated in its entirety as follows:


               FIRST: The name of the Corporation is New World Restaurant Group,
               Inc.


Vote Required and Board Recommendation

     The  affirmative  vote of a majority of shares  outstanding  is required to
approve this proposal. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE PROPOSED
AMENDMENT TO THE COMPANY'S CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION.



              PROPOSAL NO. 3. TO CONSIDER AND VOTE UPON A PROPOSED
          AMENDMENT TO OUR CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO INCREASE THE
                  MAXIMUM NUMBER OF DIRECTORS FROM NINE TO TEN.

     The  Board  of  Directors  has  approved,   and  is   recommending  to  the
Stockholders for approval at the Special Meeting of  Stockholders,  an amendment
to the Company's  Certificate of Incorporation to increase the maximum number of
directors from nine (9) to ten (10). The Board of Directors has determined  that
this  amendment is advisable and should be considered at the Special  Meeting of
Stockholders.

Purpose of Increase in Permitted Board Size

     The purpose of the amendment is to allow for the appointment of new members
to our  Board  of  Directors  as may be  required  in  connection  with  certain
agreements to which we are a party,  in  connection  with our Series F Preferred
Stock.

Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation

     If approved, the first sentence of ARTICLE SEVENTH (A)(1) would be restated
in its entirety as follows:

          SEVENTH:  A. 1. The business and affairs of the  Corporation  shall be
          managed by or under the  direction of a Board of Directors  consisting
          of such  number of  directors  as is  determined  from time to time by
          resolution  adopted by  affirmative  vote of a majority  of the entire
          Board of  Directors;  provided,  however,  that in no event  shall the
          number of directors be less than three nor more than ten.

Vote Required and Board Recommendation

     The  affirmative  vote of a majority of shares  outstanding  is required to
approve this proposal. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE PROPOSED
AMENDMENT TO THE COMPANY'S CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION.


Officers and Directors

     The  executive  officers,  directors  and key  employees of the Company and
their ages as of July 30, 2001 are as follows:



Name                                            Age      Position
- ----                                            ---      --------


                                             
R. Ramin Kamfar.............................    37       Chairman and Director
Anthony D. Wedo.............................    42       Chief Executive Officer and Director
William Rianhard............................    43       President and Chief Operating Officer
Jerold E. Novack............................    45       Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer,
                                                         Treasurer and Secretary
Keith F. Barket(1)(2).......................    39       Director
Karen Hogan(1)..............................    39       Director
Edward McCabe(2)............................    62       Director
Leonard Tannenbaum..........................    29       Director
Eve Trkla...................................    38       Director
William Nimmo(2)............................    46       Director
         .........

<FN>

(1)      Member of Audit Committee

(2)      Member of Compensation Committee
</FN>


     R. Ramin  Kamfar.  Mr. Kamfar has served as a Director  since  founding the
Company and as Chairman and Chief  Executive  Officer since December 1998.  From
May 1996 to December 1998, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of
the Company. Between October 1993 and May 1996, Mr. Kamfar served in a number of
functions, including Co-President and Co-Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
Between 1988 and 1993, he worked in the  Investment  Banking  Division of Lehman
Brothers  Inc.,  New York,  NY, most recently as a Vice  President in the firm's
Private  Placement Group.  Mr. Kamfar is a director of Vsource,  Inc. Mr. Kamfar
has a B.S.  degree with  distinction  in Finance from the University of Maryland
and an M.B.A.  degree with distinction in Finance from The Wharton School at the
University of Pennsylvania.

     Anthony D. Wedo. Mr. Wedo joined the Company as Chief Executive  Officer in
July,  2001 and was elected a Director in August 2001.  Since 1998, Mr. Wedo has
served as chief executive  officer and managing  partner of Atlantic  Restaurant
Group,  a venture group focused on acquiring  high-growth  restaurant  concepts.
From 1994 through 1997, he served as president  and chief  executive  officer of
Mid-Atlantic  Restaurant  Systems,  a Boston  Market  franchisee,  and from 1988
through  1993,  Mr.  Wedo was  employed  by Pepsico  Inc.'s KFC  division,  most
recently as vice president.  Mr. Wedo has a B.S. degree in Marketing and Finance
from Pennsylvania State University.

     William Rianhard. Mr. Rianhard became President and Chief Operating Officer
of the Company in May 2000.  From October 1995 to April 2000,  Mr.  Rianhard was
employed by Sara Lee Corporation as the President and Chief Operating Officer of
Quikava,  Inc., Hingham,  MA., Chock Full o' Nuts Cafe franchising network. From
1976 to October 1995, Mr. Rianhard was employed by Allied Domecq U.S. Retailing,
Randolph,  MA. the parent company of Dunkin' Donuts,  in various  operations and
development  positions,  serving the last four years as the  Director of Concept
Development. Mr. Rianhard has a B.A. degree from Ulster County College.

     Jerold E. Novack.  Mr. Novack joined the Company as Vice  President-Finance
in June  1994 and has  served  as  Executive  Vice  President,  Chief  Financial
Officer,  Treasurer and Secretary since July 2000 and Chief  Financial  Officer,
Treasurer and Secretary since January 1999. From 1991 to 1994, he served as Vice
President/Controller  of The Outdoor  Furniture  Store,  Inc.,  Woodridge,  NJ a
specialty retail chain.  From 1988 to 1991, he served as Controller for Richmond
Ceramic Tile,  Inc.,  New York, NY a retailer and  distributor  of ceramic tile.
From 1985 to 1988, Mr. Novack served as Assistant  Controller for Brooks Fashion
Stores,  Inc., New York, NY a specialty retail chain.  Prior to 1985, Mr. Novack
served as Import Division  Controller for Mercantile  Stores Company,  Inc., New
York, NY a department  store chain.  Mr. Novack has a B.S.  degree in Accounting
from Brooklyn College, City University of New York.

     Keith F. Barket.  Mr.  Barket has served as a director of the Company since
June 1995. Mr. Barket is the Managing Director--Real Estate for Angelo, Gordon &
Co.,  New York,  NY. From 1988 to 1997,  Mr.  Barket was a Managing  Director of
Amerimar   Enterprises  Inc.,  New  York,  NY,  a  real  estate  investment  and
development  company  during  which time he was involved in a variety of office,
retail, residential and hotel projects. From 1984 to 1986, he worked as a senior
tax accountant  with Arthur  Andersen & Co., New York, NY. Mr. Barket has a B.A.
degree from Georgetown  University and an M.B.A.  degree from The Wharton School
at the University of Pennsylvania.

     Karen  Hogan.  Ms.  Hogan has served as a  director  of the  Company  since
December  1997.  From 1992 to 1997,  Ms. Hogan served as Senior Vice  President,
Preferred Stock Product Management at Lehman Brothers,  Inc., New York, NY. From
1985 to 1992, Ms. Hogan served as Vice President,  New Product Development Group
at Lehman  Brothers,  Inc., New York,  NY. Ms. Hogan has a B.S.  degree from the
State  University  of New York at Albany  and an M.B.A.  degree in  Finance  and
Economics from Princeton University.

     Edward  McCabe.  Mr.  McCabe has served as director  of the  Company  since
February  1997.  Mr.  McCabe has served as a marketing  and  investment  banking
consultant since 1998. From 1991 to 1998, Mr. McCabe was Chief Executive Officer
of McCabe & Company,  New York, NY, an advertising and  communications  company.
From 1967 to 1986 he served in various  capacities,  most  recently as President
and Worldwide Creative Director,  at Scali, McCabe,  Sloves, Inc., New York, NY,
an  advertising  agency he  co-founded.  He also serves on the advisory board of
ThinkTanksWorldwide.com.

     Leonard Tannenbaum. Leonard Tannenbaum, C.F.A., has served as a director of
the Company since March 1999. Mr.  Tannenbaum is currently the Managing  Partner
at MYFM Capital LLC, a boutique  investment  banking firm,  and a partner at BET
Associates LP, a $50 million  venture  capital fund (see  "Principal  Holders of
Voting Stock").  Mr.  Tannenbaum is a holder of the Chartered  Financial Analyst
designation  and is a member of AIMR.  Mr.  Tannenbaum  currently  serves on the
board of directors of the following companies: Corteq, General Devices, Timesys,
an embedded Linux company, and  Transcentives.com,  an Internet holding company.
Previously,  Mr.  Tannenbaum  was  the  president  of  on-line  auction  company
CollectingNation.com,  a partner  in a $50  million  hedge  fund,  an  assistant
portfolio  manager at Pilgrim  Baxter,  and an Assistant  Vice  President in the
small company group of Merrill Lynch. Mr. Tannenbaum has an M.B.A in Finance and
Bachelors of Science in Management  from the Wharton School at the University of
Pennsylvania.

     Eve  Trkla.  Ms.  Trkla is a  controlling  person  of  Brookwood  Financial
Partners,  L.P.,  an affiliate  of  Brookwood  New World  Investors,  LLC,  (see
"Principal  Holders of Voting Stock").  Ms. Trkla has been,  since May 1993, the
Chief Financial Officer of Brookwood Financial Partners,  L.P. Ms. Trkla's prior
experience in the financial  services  field includes eight years as a lender at
The First  National Bank of Boston and one year as the Senior Credit  Officer at
The First  National  Bank of  Ipswich.  Ms.  Trkla also  serves as a director of
UbiquiTel,  Inc., a Sprint PCS  affiliate.  Ms. Trkla is a cum laude graduate of
Princeton University.

     William  Nimmo.  Mr.  Nimmo is a partner at Halpern,  Denny & Co. a private
equity investment firm and party to the Stock Purchase Agreement (see "Principal
Holders  of Voting  Stock").  From  1989 to 1997,  Mr.  Nimmo  was a partner  at
Cornerstone Equity Investors, L.L.C. and its predecessor firm, Prudential Equity
Investors,  Inc. Prior to joining  Prudential Equity Investors in 1989; he spent
ten years with J.P.  Morgan & Company.  Mr.  Nimmo is a  graduate  of  Dartmouth
College  and  received  an  M.B.A.   from  the  Amos  Tuck  School  of  Business
Administration  at  Dartmouth.  Mr.  Nimmo  serves on the  Boards of a number of
private companies.

                     PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF VOTING SECURITIES

     The  following  table sets forth as of July 30, 2001,  certain  information
regarding  beneficial ownership of the Company's Common Stock (i) by each person
who, to the  knowledge  of the Company,  beneficially  owned more than 5% of the
shares of Common  Stock of the Company  outstanding  at such date;  (ii) by each
director of the Company;  (iii) by the Chief  Executive  Officer of the Company;
and  (iv) by each  executive  officer  of the  Company,  other  than  the  Chief
Executive  Officer,  who was serving as such at July 30,  2001 and whose  annual
compensation exceeded $100,000:



                                                                                         Shares         Percentage
                                                                                         Owned         Beneficially
NAME OF BENEFICIAL OWNER**                                                               Number           Owned
- --------------------------                                                               ------           -----

                                                                                                    
Halpern Denny III, L.P.....................................................            16,951,320(1)      50.88%
Greenlight.................................................................            14,961,583(1)      47.64%
Brookwood New World Investors, LLC.........................................             3,263,178(1)      16.56%
BET Associates, L.P........................................................             3,820,523(2)      19.39%
Bruce Toll.................................................................             3,820,523(2)      19.39%
Special Situations Fund....................................................             4,287,811(1)      20.68%
Frank and Lydia LaGalia....................................................                  981,800       5.97%
R. Ramin Kamfar............................................................             1,012,282(3)       5.91%
William Rianhard...........................................................                15,000(4)         *
Anthony D. Wedo............................................................                     0(5)         *
Jerold E. Novak............................................................               703,971(6)       4.17%
Keith F. Barket............................................................                67,721(7)         *
Edward McCabe..............................................................                48,532(8)         *
Karen Hogan................................................................                66,434(9)         *
Leonard Tannenbaum.........................................................              138,972(10)         *
Eve Trkla..................................................................               10,000(11)         *
William Nimmo..............................................................               10,000(12)         *

All Directors and Executive Officers as a group (10 persons)...............                2,072,912      11.65%
- ---------------------------
<FN>

*    Less than one percent (1%).

**   Address  for each  officer and  director  of the  Company is the  Company's
     principal office located at 246 Industrial Way West, Eatontown, NJ.

(1)  Consists of Common Stock which may be purchased pursuant to warrants.

(2)  Includes  557,345 shares  beneficially  owned by BET  Associates,  L.P. and
     3,263,178 shares which may be purchased under warrants by it. Mr. Toll is a
     controlling person of BET Associates, L.P.

(3)  Includes 684,367 shares, which may be acquired upon the exercise of options
     which will be exercisable within 60 days.

(4)  Includes 15,000 shares,  which may be purchased pursuant to the exercise of
     options which will be exercisable within sixty (60) days.


(5)  Does not include  options to purchase  2,285,889  shares of common stock in
     connection  with Mr.  Wedo's  employment  agreement,  which options are not
     exercisable within sixty (60) days.


(6)  Includes  421,662  shares,  which  may be  acquired  upon the  exercise  of
     options.

(7)  Includes  37,000  shares,  which  may be  acquired  upon  the  exercise  of
     presently exercisable options.

(8)  Includes  35,000  shares,  which  may be  acquired  upon  the  exercise  of
     presently exercisable options.

(9)  Includes  30,000  shares,  which  may be  acquired  upon  the  exercise  of
     presently exercisable options.

(10) Includes  options to purchase 30,000 shares of Common Stock and warrants to
     purchase 70,000 shares of Common Stock.  Does not include  3,820,523 shares
     owned  beneficially by BET Associates,  L.P., of which Mr.  Tannenbaum is a
     limited partner owning 10% of the interest of the limited partners,  and of
     which shares Mr. Tannenbaum disclaims beneficial ownership.

(11) Includes  10,000  shares,  which  may be  acquired  upon  the  exercise  of
     presently  exercisable  options.  Ms.  Trkla  is a  controlling  person  of
     Brookwood  Financial  Partner,  L.P.,  an affiliate of Brookwood  New World
     Investors,  LLC (see Note (1) above).  Ms.  Trkla  disclaims  a  beneficial
     interest in the Common  Stock  beneficially  owned by  Brookwood  New World
     Investors, LLC.

(12) Includes  10,000  shares,  which  may be  acquired  upon  the  exercise  of
     presently  exercisable  options.  Does not include  10,605,140 shares owned
     beneficially  by Halpern Denny III, LP (see Note (1)) in which Mr. Nimmo is
     a partner.  Mr. Nimmo  disclaims a beneficial  interest in the Common Stock
     beneficially owned by Halpern Denny III, LP.
</FN>




       PROPOSAL NO. 4. TO APPROVE THE ISSUANCE OF WARRANTS TO PURCHASE AN
AGGREGATE OF 13,720,000 SHARES OF THE COMPANY'S COMMON STOCK IN CONNECTION WITH
  THE SALE OF SENIOR SECURED INCREASING RATE PROMISSORY NOTES AND WARRANTS TO
 PURCHASE AN AGGREGATE OF 42,950,564 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK IN CONNECTION WITH
  THE SALE OF THE SERIES F PREFERRED STOCK, AND THE ISSUANCE OF THE UNDERLYING
        COMMON STOCK FOR PURPOSES OF THE NASDAQ NATIONAL MARKET LISTING
                              OF OUR COMMON STOCK.


     The Board of Directors has approved and issued,  and is recommending to the
Stockholders for approval at the Special Meeting of Stockholders,  the issuance,
of warrants  to purchase an  aggregate  of  13,720,000  shares of the  Company's
Common  Stock in  connection  with the sale of senior  secured  increasing  rate
promissory  notes and warrants to purchase an aggregate of 42,950,564  shares of
Common Stock in connection with the sale of Series F. Preferred  Stock,  and the
underlying  Common Stock.  The exercise price of all of the Warrants is $.01 per
share. Under the terms of the warrants,  the same will be exercisable whether or
not there is stockholder approval.


     The purpose of the requested  approval is to attempt to meet a condition of
a continued listing of our common stock on the NASDAQ National Market. The staff
of NASDAQ has advised us that the  issuance of the  warrants  and the  potential
issuance of the underlying  common stock described above are, in the view of the
staff,  in  violation  of  rules  requiring  prior   stockholder   approval  for
transactions  or issuances  that may result in a change in control of an issuer,
where more than twenty  percent  (20%) of an issuer's  common stock is issued or
issuable in connection  with the  acquisition  of the stock or assets of another
company and where twenty  percent (20%) or more of the common stock of an issuer
is issuable at a price below the then market price.

     The staff of NASDAQ has advised us that its  position is that the  approval
being sought by this proxy  statement  related to the issuance of such  warrants
and common  stock will not be  sufficient  to remedy the failure to obtain prior
approval  and that the staff will  recommend  that our common  stock be delisted
from the NASDAQ National Market. We will seek an  administrative  review of this
determination  before an appeal panel of NASDAQ. We do not know what the outcome
of such an appeal will be, and there may be a determination that the stockholder
approval  being sought hereby is not  sufficient  to remedy the rule  violations
indicated by the staff of NASDAQ, in which event a delisting of our common stock
would result.

     In the event a delisting appears to be likely, we will re-apply for listing
of our common stock on the NASDAQ  National  Market  and/or apply for listing on
another  nationally  recognized  stock market.  There can be no assurance we can
obtain such listing. A delisting of our common stock from NASDAQ National Market
would, in the absence of another listing,  adversely affect the liquidity of the
trading  market for our common stock which,  in turn, may have an adverse effect
on the price of our common stock.

     The warrants were issued in a series of related  transactions in connection
with the Company's  efforts to acquire the business and assets of  Einstein/Noah
Bagel Corp.  ("Einstein").  In or about December 2000, the Company determined it
would be necessary to purchase certain debentures issued by Einstein. To finance
the purchase of these debentures and certain related expenses,  the Company sold
shares of its Series F Preferred  Stock and warrants to purchase common stock to
certain  investors.  After  significant  efforts,  on June 1, 2001,  the Company
became the successful  bidder in the Bankruptcy Court for the assets of Einstein
with a bid of $160 million plus the  assumption of $30 million in trade debt. In
order to finance the  acquisition of the assets of Einstein,  the Company issued
$140  million  principal  value of  senior  secured  increasing  rate  notes and
warrants  to  purchase  common  stock in a financing  conducted  by  Jefferies &
Company,  Inc.  The Company  also sold  additional  shares of Series F Preferred
Stock and warrants to purchase  common stock to help finance the  acquisition of
the assets of Einstein.

     The following is a detailed  description  of the  transactions  referred to
above.

     Bond  Purchase  Agreement  dated  January 17, 2001. On or about January 17,
2001,  the Company  entered into a Bond Purchase  Agreement  (the "Bond Purchase
Agreement") with Greenlight Capital,  L.P., Greenlight Capital Qualified,  L.P.,
and Greenlight Capital Offshore, Ltd., (collectively the "Greenlight Entities").
Pursuant  to the Bond  Purchase  Agreement,  the  Greenlight  Entities  formed a
limited  liability  company  ("Bondco")  and  invested  in the same Ten  Million
($10,000,000)   Dollars  for  the  purchase  of  certain  debentures  ("Einstein
Debentures")  issued by the Einstein/Noah  Bagel  Corporation  ("Einstein") (the
"Bonds").  The Company was  designated the exclusive  manager of Bondco.  At the
time of a combination of the Company and Einstein, Bondco had the option to sell
its Bonds.  The Company would then share in the profits (if any) and exclusively
bear the losses in  relation  thereto,  based on an agreed to  accretion  in the
Greenlight Entities investment.  Alternatively, Bondco could retain its Bonds or
securities  issued  in lieu  thereof  or may  sell the  same to the  Company  in
exchange for a newly  created class of Series E Preferred  Stock.  In connection
with the Bond  Purchase  Agreement,  the  Company  also  issued  the  Greenlight
Entities warrants to purchase an aggregate of four million two hundred forty two
thousand  fifty six  (4,242,056)  shares  of the  Company's  Common  Stock at an
exercise price of $.01 per share. The Bond Purchase  Agreement provides that for
so  long as (i)  there  has not  been a  combination  between  the  Company  and
Einstein,  or (ii) there has been a  combination  with Einstein and the Series E
Preferred  Stock has not been issued to the  Greenlight  Entities,  or (iii) the
Series  E  Preferred  Stock  was  issued,  but has not been  redeemed,  then the
Greenlight Entities are entitled to receive additional warrants equal to 0.9375%
of the fully diluted Common Stock of the Company  (excepting certain options and
warrants) on January 17, 2002 and at the beginning of each succeeding  three (3)
month period.  The warrant has a term of five (5) years.  In addition,  warrants
for an additional 1.5% of the fully diluted Common Stock shall be issued at such
time as the Series F Preferred Stock is redeemed. The Company and the Greenlight
Entities  entered into a Registration  Rights  Agreement  relating to the shares
purchasable under the warrants.

     Series F Preferred Stock and Warrant  Purchase  Agreement dated January 18,
2001. In January 2001,  the Company sold shares of its Series F Preferred  Stock
to Halpern  Denny III,  L.P.  ("Halpern  Denny") in exchange for Twenty  Million
($20,000,000)  Dollars to be used for the  purchase of Einstein  Debentures.  In
connection with the purchase of the Series F Preferred Stock, the Company issued
Halpern  Denny a warrant to purchase  eight  million  four  hundred  eighty four
thousand one hundred twelve  (8,484,112) shares of the Company's Common Stock at
an exercise price of $.01 per share.  The Series F Purchase  Agreement  provides
that for so long as the Series F Preferred  Stock has not been redeemed for cash
(including  payment of certain  subordinated  senior notes (the  "Notes") to the
holders of Series F Preferred  Stock,)  Halpern Denny shall  receive  additional
warrants  equal  to  1.5% of the  fully  diluted  Common  Stock  of the  Company
(excepting  certain  options  and  warrants)  on  January  22,  2002 and on each
succeeding  June 30th and  December  31st.  The  warrant  has a term of five (5)
years. The warrant contains certain anti-dilution  provisions which provide that
it will be exercisable for additional  shares under certain events, as set forth
in the warrant.

     Exchange Agreement dated January 22, 2001. BET Associates, L.P. ("BET") and
Brookwood New World  Investors,  LLC  ("Brookwood")  invested the sum of Fifteen
Million  ($15,000,000) Dollars in August 2000 for substantially the same purpose
as contemplated by the Series F Purchase Agreement.  BET and Brookwood were then
holders of Series D Preferred  Stock,  and had the right to approve the creation
of Series F Preferred Stock. Therefore, the Company considered it appropriate to
restructure the investment  documents  relating to their August 2000 investment.
Accordingly,  the Company,  BET and Brookwood entered into an Exchange Agreement
whereby  they  exchanged  all of their  outstanding  Series D  Preferred  Stock,
including accrued,  but unpaid dividends (all of which were retired) for certain
shares of  Series F  Preferred  Stock.  BET and  Brookwood  also  exchanged  the
warrants  received by them in August 2000 for  warrants to purchase an aggregate
of six  million  five  hundred  twenty  six  thousand  three  hundred  fifty six
(6,526,356)  shares of Common Stock of the Company at an exercise  price of $.01
per share. The form of these warrants are substantially identical to the form of
the warrant issued to Halpern Denny including the  anti-dilution  provisions and
provisions  thereof relating to the increase of the warrant shares,  except that
the semi-annual increases are an aggregate of 1.154% of the fully diluted Common
Stock of the Company (excepting certain options and warrants).

     Second Series F Preferred Stock and Warrant Purchase  Agreement dated March
29, 2001.  On or about March 29, 2001,  the Company  consummated  a sale of five
thousand (5,000)  additional shares of Series F Preferred Stock to Halpern Denny
in exchange for the sum of Five Million  ($5,000,000)  Dollars.  The proceeds of
this  financing  were used by the Company for costs and expenses  related to its
ongoing efforts to effect a business combination with Einstein.  Pursuant to the
terms of the Second  Series F Preferred  Stock and Warrants  Purchase  Agreement
(the "Second  Purchase  Agreement"),  the Company  also issued to Halpern  Denny
warrants to purchase  two million  one hundred  twenty one  thousand  and twenty
eight shares  (2,121,028) of the Company's  Common Stock at an exercise price of
$.01 per share  (subject to adjustment as provided in the warrant).  The form of
the  warrant  issued to  Halpern  Denny is  virtually  identical  to the form of
warrant  issued  to  Halpern  Denny  pursuant  to  the  Company's  January  2001
financing.  The Second Purchase  Agreement also provides that for so long as the
Series F Preferred  Stock has not been redeemed for cash  (including  payment of
the Notes,  if any),  or until  there is a  combination  between the Company and
Einstein and a redemption of the Series F Preferred Stock, including delivery of
the Notes (but not payment of the same),  Halpern Denny shall receive additional
warrants  equal to 0.375%  of the  fully  diluted  Common  Stock of the  Company
(excepting  certain  options  and  warrants)  on  March  29,  2002  and on  each
succeeding  June 30th and  December  31st.  The  warrant  has a term of five (5)
years. The warrant contains certain anti-dilution  provisions which provide that
it will be exercisable for additional  shares under certain events, as set forth
in the warrant.

     Series F Preferred Stock and Warrant Purchase Agreement dated June 7, 2001.
On or about June 7, 2001,  the  Company  consummated  the sale of four  thousand
(4,000)  additional  shares of its Series F Preferred  Stock to Halpern Denny in
exchange for the sum of Four Million  ($4,000,000) Dollars pursuant to the terms
of the Series F Preferred  Stock and Warrant  Purchase  Agreement  dated June 7,
2001 (the "June Purchase Agreement"), the proceeds of which were used for costs,
expenses and  expenditures  related to the Einstein  acquisition.  In connection
with the June  Purchase  Agreement,  the Company  also  issued to Halpern  Denny
warrants to purchase in the aggregate  three  million three hundred  eighty four
thousand six hundred  twenty nine  (3,384,629)  shares of the  Company's  Common
Stock at an exercise  price of $.01 per share.  The warrants have a term of five
(5) years and contain certain  anti-dilution  provisions which provide that they
will be exercisable  for additional  shares under certain events as set forth in
the warrants.

     Third Series F Preferred  Stock and Warrant  Purchase  Agreement dated June
19,  2001.  On or about June 19,  2001,  the Company  sold  twenty one  thousand
(21,000)  additional  shares of its Series F  Preferred  Stock in  exchange  for
Twenty One  Million  ($21,000,000)  Dollars  pursuant  to the terms of the Third
Series F Preferred Stock and Warrant Purchase  Agreement with certain investors,
the proceeds of which were used for costs,  expenses and expenditures related to
the Einstein acquisition. In addition, in connection with the sale of the Series
F Preferred Stock (the "Third Purchase Agreement"), the Company sold warrants to
purchase in the aggregate eighteen million one hundred ninety two thousand three
hundred  eighty three  (18,192,383)  shares of the Company's  Common Stock at an
exercise  price of $.01 per share  (subject  to  adjustment  as  provided in the
warrant).  The warrants have a term of five (5) years and contain  anti-dilution
provisions  which provide they will be exercisable  for additional  shares under
certain  events  as set forth in the  warrants.  The  Third  Purchase  Agreement
provides that for so long as the Series F Preferred  Stock has not been redeemed
for cash (including payment of the Notes, if any), Halpern Denny, the Greenlight
Entities  and certain  investors  collectively  known as the Special  Situations
Funds  shall  receive  additional  warrants  equal  to a  percentage  (specified
therein) of the fully  diluted  Common Stock of the Company  (excepting  certain
options  and  warrants)  on June  19,  2002 and each  succeeding  June  30th and
December 31st.

     One  Hundred  Forty  Million  Dollar  High Yield Note Sale to  Jefferies  &
Company, Inc. In connection with acquisition of Einstein, the Company issued One
Hundred Forty Million  ($140,000,000)  Dollars of senior secured increasing rate
notes due 2003 (the "$140  Million  Facility")  to Jefferies & Company,  Inc. In
connection with the $140 Million  Facility,  the Company also issued warrants to
purchase in the  aggregate of thirteen  million seven  hundred  twenty  thousand
(13,720,000)  shares of the Company's  Common Stock at an exercise price of $.01
per share.  The  warrants  are  exercisable  for a period of five (5) years.  In
addition, if on March 15, 2002, the notes issued under the $140 Million Facility
remain outstanding,  the Company will issue additional warrants  representing 1%
of its fully diluted  Common Stock.  If on June 15, 2002, the notes issued under
the $140 Million Facility remain outstanding,  the Company will issue additional
warrants representing 1% of the Company's fully diluted Common Stock. After June
15,  2002,  the  Company  will  issue on a  monthly  basis  additional  warrants
representing 1% of the fully diluted Common Stock of the Company until the notes
issued  under the $140 Million  Facility  have been  repaid.  The warrants  also
contain  certain  anti-dilution   provisions  which  provide  that  it  will  be
exercisable  for  additional  shares  under  certain  events as set forth in the
warrant.

     Each of the holders of our Series F  Preferred  Stock,  together  with such
holder's  related  entities,  because  of the  warrants  held by them  which are
described  above,  is an  affiliate of the Company  (see  "Principal  Holders of
Voting  Securities").   In  addition,  William  Nimmo,  Eve  Trkla  and  Leonard
Tannenbaum,  who have been designated by the holders of Series F Preferred Stock
as members of our Board of Directors, have interests,  respectively,  in Halpern
Denny, Brookwood and BET.


     As of the record date, there were 17,457,970  shares of Common Stock issued
and  outstanding.  As a result of the exercise of the warrants  described above,
the current holders of our Common Stock would experience  substantial  dilution,
since the  holders of our Series F  Preferred  Stock own  warrants  to  purchase
Common  Stock  which,  if issued,  would equal 56.5% of the voting  stock of the
Company as of the record  date.  The  holders  of our Series F  Preferred  Stock
currently  have the  right  to  designate  up to four  members  of our  Board of
Directors  and, in the event  dividends  on the Series F Preferred  Stock are in
arrears, or that the Series F Preferred Stock is not redeemed in accordance with
its terms,  the  holders of our Series F  Preferred  Stock will be  entitled  to
designate a majority of the members of the Board of Directors until such default
is cured.

     Although the holders of our Series F Preferred  Stock would,  upon exercise
of their warrants,  own 56.5% of the  outstanding  voting stock as of the record
date, the agreement  under which they can designate four directors also provides
for an additional  six directors,  three of whom are chosen from  management and
the other three of whom are chosen as independent  directors by the non-investor
members of the Board of Directors.


     The  requested  approval is solely for the purposes of the NASDAQ  National
Market  listing of our common stock.  Under the terms of the warrants,  the same
are and will be exerciseable whether or not there is stockholder approval.

Vote Required and Board Recommendation

     The  affirmative  vote of holders of a majority  of the shares  entitled to
vote at the Special Meeting of Stockholders is required to approve, for purposes
of the  NASDAQ  National  Market  listing,  the  issuance  of the  warrants  and
underlying  common stock described  above.  THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS  RECOMMENDS A
VOTE FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE ISSUANCE OF THE WARRANTS AND THE UNDERLYING  COMMON
STOCK.


     5. OTHER MATTERS


     The Board of Directors has no knowledge of any other matters which may come
before the Special  Meeting of  Stockholders  and does not intend to present any
other  matters.  However,  if any other  business shall properly come before the
Special Meeting of Stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the persons named as
proxies  will have  discretionary  authority  to vote the shares of Common Stock
represented by the accompanying proxy in accordance with their best judgment.

           PROCEDURE FOR SUBMISSION OF YEAR 2001 STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS

     Proposals  by  stockholders  for  inclusion  in the 2001 Annual  Meeting of
Stockholders  proxy  statement  must be received  by New World  Coffee-Manhattan
Bagel, Inc., 246 Industrial Way West,  Eatontown,  New Jersey 07724, pursuant to
the provisions of the Restated  Certificate of  Incorporation.  To be timely,  a
stockholder's  notice  must be  received  not less than sixty (60) days nor more
than ninety (90) days prior to the first  anniversary  of the  preceding  year's
annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the Annual
Meeting of  Stockholders is advanced by more than thirty (30) days or delayed by
more than sixty (60) days from such anniversary, notice by the stockholder to be
timely must be so  received  not earlier  than the  ninetieth  day prior to such
Annual Meeting of  Stockholders  and not later than the close of business on the
later of (1) the sixtieth day prior to such Annual Meeting of  Stockholders;  or
(2) the tenth day  following  the date on which notice of the date of the Annual
Meeting  of  Stockholders  was  mailed or public  disclosure  there of was made,
whichever first occurs.  All such proposals are subject to the applicable  rules
and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

                                  OTHER MATTERS

     So far as the Board of Directors is aware, only the aforementioned  matters
will be acted upon at the Special Meeting of Stockholders.  If any other matters
properly come before the Special  Meeting of  Stockholders,  it is intended that
the accompanying proxy may be voted on such other matters in accordance with the
best judgment of the person or persons voting said proxy.

                                      By order of the Board of Directors.


                                      Jerold E. Novack, Secretary

Dated: August 22, 2001



                               COMMON STOCK PROXY
                                    .........

                    NEW WORLD COFFEE - MANHATTAN BAGEL, INC.
                             246 Industrial Way West
                           Eatontown, New Jersey 07724

     This Proxy is Solicited on Behalf of the Board of Directors.

     The undersigned,  revoking all previous  proxies,  hereby appoints R. Ramin
Kamfar  and  Jerold  E.  Novack,  and  each  of  them,  proxies  with  power  of
substitution  to each, for and in the name of the undersigned to vote all shares
of Common Stock of New World Coffee - Manhattan  Bagel,  Inc.  (the  "Company"),
held of record by the undersigned on July 30, 2001 which the  undersigned  would
be  entitled to vote if present at the Special  Meeting of  Stockholders  of the
Company to be held on September  12, 2001,  at 9:30 a.m. at 246  Industrial  Way
West,  Eatontown,  New Jersey  07724,  and any  adjournments  thereof,  upon the
matters set forth in the Notice of Special Meeting of Stockholders.

     The undersigned  acknowledges  receipt of the Notice of Special Meeting and
Proxy Statement.

     1. TO APPROVE  THE  PROPOSED  AMENDMENT  TO THE  COMPANY'S  CERTIFICATE  OF
INCORPORATION TO INCREASE THE AUTHORIZED  COMMON STOCK FROM 50,000,000 SHARES TO
150,000,000 SHARES.

         FOR __________    AGAINST ___________       ABSTAIN ____________

     2. TO APPROVE  THE  PROPOSED  AMENDMENT  TO THE  COMPANY'S  CERTIFICATE  OF
INCORPORATION TO CHANGE OUR NAME TO NEW WORLD RESTAURANT GROUP, INC.

         FOR __________    AGAINST ___________       ABSTAIN ____________

     3. TO APPROVE  THE  PROPOSED  AMENDMENT  TO THE  COMPANY'S  CERTIFICATE  OF
INCORPORATION TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF DIRECTORS FROM NINE TO TEN.

         FOR __________    AGAINST ___________       ABSTAIN ____________

     4. TO APPROVE  THE  ISSUANCE  OF  WARRANTS  TO  PURCHASE  AN  AGGREGATE  OF
13,720,000  SHARES OF THE COMPANY'S  COMMON STOCK IN CONNECTION WITH THE SALE OF
SENIOR  SECURED  INCREASING  RATE  PROMISSORY  NOTES AND WARRANTS TO PURCHASE AN
AGGREGATE OF 42,950,564  SHARES OF COMMON STOCK IN  CONNECTION  WITH THE SALE OF
SERIES F PREFERRED  STOCK,  AND THE ISSUANCE OF THE UNDERLYING  COMMON STOCK FOR
PURPOSES OF THE NASDAQ NATIONAL MARKET LISTING.

         FOR __________    AGAINST ___________       ABSTAIN ____________

     5.  TRANSACTION  OF SUCH OTHER  BUSINESS  AS MAY  PROPERLY  COME BEFORE THE
MEETING AND ANY ADJOURNMENT OR POSTPONEMENT THEREOF.

         FOR __________    AGAINST ___________       ABSTAIN ____________

     PLEASE  SIGN ON THE  REVERSE  SIDE AND RETURN  THIS PROXY  PROMPTLY  IN THE
ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.

     THIS PROXY IS  SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY
and when properly  executed will be voted as directed herein. If no direction is
given, this Proxy will be voted "FOR" all proposals.

(Date)

(Signature)

(Signature, if held jointly)

     Please  sign  exactly as name  appears  below.  If shares are held by joint
tenants,  both should sign. When signing as attorney,  executor,  administrator,
trustee or guardian,  please list full title as such. If a  corporation,  please
sign in full  corporate  name by president  or other  authorized  officer.  If a
partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person.

     Please sign, date and return promptly in the enclosed envelope.  No postage
need be affixed if mailed in the United States.