Well, this is all horrible new to me. St. Louis is one of the last cities to still have wonderful, private donut shops, that actually make good donuts. Dunkin Donuts has driven all these private shops from existence in other cities and left their neighborhoods with only the nastiest excuse for donuts. Seriously, their donuts are bad and normally stale. I think we should be proud of our local shops.
^ If those private shops you mention were so good, why did they go out of business? Was Dunkin-Donuts brainwashing serum ferried into the water supply?
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innov8ion wrote:^ If those private shops you mention were so good, why did they go out of business? Was Dunkin-Donuts brainwashing serum ferried into the water supply?
In a way. With things called advertising and brand recognition. It's just like anything else, small guys have a hard time competing with chains. It only takes 25% or so of their business to be siphoned off and they are done. They don't make that much to begin with. All I know is that DD's donuts suck and the ones that I get at the local shops are really good.
^ You're right. Places like Rooster, Pi, Bailey's Chocolate Bar, Blueberry Hill, etc have no chance against the chains. Zia's vs. the Olive Garden? Sucka please... What's Zia's got on unlimited soup, salad and breadsticks @ the O.G.?!?
I think the point Toasted is making is that the locals make better tasting donuts. However, it is true with most mom and pop shops... they make awesome food, however usually dont know how to truely run a business including Marketing to capital investments.
I for one do not know of any donut shops downtown... so if they ever come here, I will be happy.
I for one do not know of any donut shops downtown... so if they ever come here, I will be happy.
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Well I for one will continue to get my regular donuts at World's Fair, St. Louis Hills, John's in Soulard, etc.
But Dunkin Donuts has other menu items that the mom and pop shops do not.
I also like their coffee.
And that brings up another point. Has Starbucks run out the independent coffee shops? Doesn't seem like it to me. Coffee Cartel seems to do just fine a few hundred yards from Starbucks in the CWE.
I see Dunkin Donuts and the local donut stops playing out the same way.
But Dunkin Donuts has other menu items that the mom and pop shops do not.
I also like their coffee.
And that brings up another point. Has Starbucks run out the independent coffee shops? Doesn't seem like it to me. Coffee Cartel seems to do just fine a few hundred yards from Starbucks in the CWE.
I see Dunkin Donuts and the local donut stops playing out the same way.
The mom and pops like Worlds Fair coexisted just fine with Dunkin Donuts for decades. And unlike Dunkin, they didn't pack up and go home when Krispy Kreme aggressively came into St. Louis.
Its the coffee! I think most fans of DD's, like me, want the coffee. Heck, I buy the DD brand at Sams's Club. Instead, I think the local gas stations should worry about losing out on an easy sale and a tidy profit on coffee. I would stop at DD's for coffee instead of the corner gas station if I had a choice (I typically hit the gas station at Murdoch Cutoff and Lansdowne in Shrewsbury for my afternoon cup of Joe).
As far as the mom and pop donought shops. I honestly haven't found a place that has great coffee to go with some great fresh donoughts.
As far as the mom and pop donought shops. I honestly haven't found a place that has great coffee to go with some great fresh donoughts.
Yup, only the strong survive. If you bring a weak game, just stay home and let the ballers do their thing.
Also, it's wayyy easier to go to a place that's open 24hrs than a place that runs out of donuts by noon... but that won't keep me from trekking down to the Donut Stop every now and again.
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Dredger wrote:Its the coffee! I think most fans of DD's, like me, want the coffee. Heck, I buy the DD brand at Sams's Club. Instead, I think the local gas stations should worry about losing out on an easy sale and a tidy profit on coffee. I would stop at DD's for coffee instead of the corner gas station if I had a choice (I typically hit the gas station at Murdoch Cutoff and Lansdowne in Shrewsbury for my afternoon cup of Joe).
As far as the mom and pop donought shops. I honestly haven't found a place that has great coffee to go with some great fresh donoughts.
Right - it would be fantastic to have a local coffee roaster team up with a classic donut maker. It seems that places like Kaldi's, Kayak's or Northwest Coffee fall on the more scone/healthier/organic food side of things, but it would be great if it could happen... anyone have the $$$ to do it?
Who needs to buy donuts after noon anyway? Bunch of fatasses!asckee wrote:Also, it's wayyy easier to go to a place that's open 24hrs than a place that runs out of donuts by noon... but that won't keep me from trekking down to the Donut Stop every now and again.
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innov8ion wrote:Who needs to buy donuts after noon anyway? Bunch of fatasses!asckee wrote:Also, it's wayyy easier to go to a place that's open 24hrs than a place that runs out of donuts by noon... but that won't keep me from trekking down to the Donut Stop every now and again.
I was always shocked at the number of people I'd see coming out of World's Fair late in the day.
^ Heh, that was kinda tongue-in-cheek. I'd hope people should be able to buy donuts whenever they want...
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The difference here is that I have seen this monopolization play out in other cities with Dunkin (Chicago, Boston). The local donut industry seems to be especially fragile, and that scares me.
southsidepride wrote:
And that brings up another point. Has Starbucks run out the independent coffee shops? Doesn't seem like it to me. Coffee Cartel seems to do just fine a few hundred yards from Starbucks in the CWE.
There's Java Plus at Metropolitan Square with a fairly small Starbucks across the street. I'd say Java Plus does fine because of food and Metropolitan Square employees.
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ToastedRavioli wrote:The difference here is that I have seen this monopolization play out in other cities with Dunkin (Chicago, Boston). The local donut industry seems to be especially fragile, and that scares me.
Most of St. Louis's locals are fragile. Since we're not really a "walking city" at this point, many people just shop/eat out of convenience wherever they park their car.
This is why the city has so few walkable retail strips...suburban, auto-friendly locations suck away all the customers.
Those of us that care about uniqueness in our city need to make sure we lend disproportionate support to those retail shops/restaurants that are local and offer an STL flavor not to be had elsewhere.
To shopkeepers (donut stores included), do whatever you can to get a hold of facade improvements monies. Make interesting and attractive window displays and signage!
Support Dunkin half of the time, if you must, and local/independents the other half and keep our city unique.
An update on the Kirkwood Dunkin Donuts, which is the first of many locations that will be happy to serve you:
I'm not sure when it's slated to open, but I can share more as I find out.Update wrote:The foundation is down and the building is being framed out as we speak. The record rainfall this past month slowed them down somewhat, but it's still moving forward at a good clip.
would a Dunkin Donuts do well downtown? If yes, where, in your opinion, would be the most profitable location?
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I think Dunkin' Donuts would do great downtown. A Clayton location would likely also do well.
I know there's a lot of hand wringing about DD crowding out the mom and pop donut shops. But the way I see it most of those shops are in places I don't see Dunkin Donuts putting a location--at least not for a long while.
I know there's a lot of hand wringing about DD crowding out the mom and pop donut shops. But the way I see it most of those shops are in places I don't see Dunkin Donuts putting a location--at least not for a long while.
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ttricamo wrote:would a Dunkin Donuts do well downtown? If yes, where, in your opinion, would be the most profitable location?
I think the space vacated by Lion's Choice would work well, although it's probably a little on the large side.
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DeBaliviere wrote:ttricamo wrote:would a Dunkin Donuts do well downtown? If yes, where, in your opinion, would be the most profitable location?
I think the space vacated by Lion's Choice would work well, although it's probably a little on the large side.
Or Wehbe's, but that might be too small.
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South Compton wrote:DeBaliviere wrote:ttricamo wrote:would a Dunkin Donuts do well downtown? If yes, where, in your opinion, would be the most profitable location?
I think the space vacated by Lion's Choice would work well, although it's probably a little on the large side.
Or Wehbe's, but that might be too small.
There are vacancies in the Paul Brown and Frisco Buildings that could work too.
On my way home from work on Friday evening I noticed the Lamar's Donut sign was partially covered up with a vinyl banner. The Lamar's was covered up with a new sgn that read Ray's. This moring they were open again, so I guess it was just a quick name change. I know there were only a handful of Lamar's in the area. Did any of the other locations change ownership or close?