Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Donut Pub Wins

In 2007, when a Dunkin Donuts moved a few doors down from the Donut Pub on 14th Street, some of the Pub's customers were worried that it would spell doom for the 43-year-old mom and pop. Well, those worries are over--the interloping Dunkie's has closed, and the Pub (now 46) still stands.



I'm not sure when, exactly, this store closed, but it has vanished without even a tearful note goodbye. As we recently learned, Dunkin Donuts is the biggest chain in New York City, with "77 more stores than Subway and 210 more than Starbucks." It is undeniably a force to be reckoned with. Is it too much to say that the little Donut Pub defeated this seemingly unstoppable Goliath?

How did the Pub do it? I'd like to think it has to do with loyal customers, people like Josephine Motto who told The Villager in 2007 that, after trying a free sample from Dunkin Donuts, “I got sick on them... [The Donut Pub’s] doughnuts are much better.”

Agreed.



More Donuts:
The Donut Pub
Peter Pan Donut Shop
Donuts Coffee Shop
Disco Donut
at

12 comments:

  1. EV GrieveJanuary 5, 2011 at 9:14 AM

    Woo!

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  2. AnonymousJanuary 5, 2011 at 10:07 AM

    I wish I were thin enough to give the Donut Pub more business. They really are the best. French crullers...mmmmmm.

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  3. Andrew GardnerJanuary 5, 2011 at 10:21 AM

    Warms the heart, doesn't it?

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  4. JaWzJanuary 5, 2011 at 10:33 AM

    This is not the first time Donut Pub has taken out a Dunkin Donuts challenger. There was one that appeared around the corner, on the west side of 7th Avenue between 14th & 15th where the pizza place is now, 10 or maybe even 15 years ago. It didn't last very long. I think it may have been one of those awful Dunkin/Popeye's/whatever combos that appeared all over the city mid 90s. Glad the Pub has triumphed again. Their Boston creams are divine.

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  5. AnonymousJanuary 5, 2011 at 11:00 AM

    YES! I've been going to the Donut Pub for years for a coffee and a black & white cookie (some of the best in the city IMHO) - so glad they're sticking around!

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  6. AnonymousJanuary 5, 2011 at 12:19 PM

    It is one thing that people are thankful that the DP is still around, but another when people celebrate the closing of a an independently owned small business like DD. It is a franchise, so it is not DD loss, but the individual owner and all of its' employees. So, the space will sit empty resulting in no jobs and no tax $ to NYC. If that "warms your heart" then you are just an a-hole.

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  7. Marty WombacherJanuary 5, 2011 at 12:44 PM

    Hooray for the Donut Pub! A classic New York joint that refuses to vanish! I'm going to go get a donut right now to celebrate.

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  8. ShawnJanuary 5, 2011 at 2:22 PM

    Wow, for once I get to say "Jeremiah's Vanishing... Gentrification" that feels soooo nice.

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  9. AnonymousJanuary 5, 2011 at 5:09 PM

    J, I moved away from NYC 6 years ago. If I had to name 5 things I missed, the Donut Pub would be on it. Oh, to have a cup of their good coffee and a donut.

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  10. nygrumpJanuary 6, 2011 at 9:48 AM

    When the franchise opened a couple doors down from Donut Pub they lost all sympathy from me. There are any number of other locations but they chose, like Starbucks and B&N and other shark corps, to try and ssquash the little guy. Dunkind Donuts is owned by the Carlyle Cgroup - i.e., the Bush family and other US fascists.

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  11. AnonymousJanuary 6, 2011 at 2:02 PM

    Hope!

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  12. AnonymousJanuary 6, 2011 at 2:05 PM

    BTW, I used to go to Donut Pub all the time; that woman server, I think she's Irish, with the blonde hair is a classic. Been there for years, not like DD's in and out staff. NOW, all I want is the return of SUCELT across the street, and their special servers!

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