Thomas’ was founded in New York by Samuel Bath Thomas in 1880.
Samuel Bath Thomas was a British baker who emigrated to the United States and established a bakery in New York City. The company became known for the English muffin, a yeast-leavened bread that is split rather than sliced and is traditionally toasted before serving. Its uneven interior is often described as containing “nooks and crannies.”
Thomas’ English muffins became a familiar American breakfast product and are commonly served with butter, jam, eggs, or breakfast sandwiches. In Britain, however, the item is generally called simply a muffin or English muffin to distinguish it from sweet American-style muffins.
The English muffin is not the same as a crumpet. Crumpets are cooked from a looser batter and usually have holes on one surface, while English muffins are made from a firmer dough and are split open.