Donuts as a destination might work in heady asset-bubble times, but not in any normal world.
Scott Livengood’s father and my father were friends. I’ve heard this story from the other perspective. They just needed a fall guy. Like many manias, certain parties convinced themselves that expand, expand, expand was the only way to go, go, go. No thought to product quality, brand dilution or ultimately even shareholder equity.
It’s still a fine, old local company that makes a unique product. As Livengood tried to point out and was repeatedly shot down, overexposure of a unique product makes that product not so unique, and after all, it’s still a doughnut; how many doughnuts are people going to buy, really?
I’m still a sucker for that bright red neon “Hot Now” sign, though. Fresh, while the thin glaze is still smooth and sort of matte looking, there’s nothing quite like them. They’ve been a part of my life for all my life, and my parents and grandparents, too. I recall an old photo of the original store, in historic Old Salem, with late 30’s Ford panel vans lined up and painted up in KK livery. It was a proud, happy scene, especially for the depression, where such scenes were not common. It was a good product, made by good people, honestly. Too bad that got dragged through the mud.
Screw 'em, they are pure hype IMO. If they do fail I won't miss them and their lousy sticky glaze. Can't take a bite of one without getting the goo all over my face, and the donut inside that ickyness has no flavor whatsoever.
Indeed, they are the worst donuts I ever had.
A Krispy Kreme opened up in my home town of Dedham, MA a few years ago.
It lasted about a year and has heen closed down empty ever since.
Take your day old, 2 day old glazed donuts, slip them in the toaster oven.
Broil until the glaze bubbles and browns.
Serve w/ fork.
I used to like KK but DD rules now.
Another of Winston-Salem’s spectacular flame-outs, buyouts or Management just plain didn’t like living in a “bucolic” town:
Piedmont Airlines
Wachovia
ATT
Nabisco
Dell
Sarah Lee cut backs
KK decided to expand right as the Adkins craze hit..
btt
Krespy was knocked out of the area in which I live. I miss them. And Dunkin’ Donuts seems to have gone far downhill.
And Joe Public continues blissfully unaware.
And the scam artists are still trying to convince us that nothing criminal actually happened; We're too ignorant, stupid or both, to understand the delicacies of financial manipulation.
And scarily, many are right here on FR.
when we were kids (back in the early 70’s) we would stop by KK about 5 am and they would give us the donuts they had made the day before (they were going to trow them out) My Mom and dad thought we were stealing them (we had boxes and boxes in our bed room).
I haven’t ever had their donuts fresh, but I’m not one to look down my nose at any donut. If I’m having one, it’s a break from my usually healthy eating habits, so I pour the coffee or milk and enjoy.