Take your damn doughnuts and git!

[Flash]

Krispy Kreme shuts its doors in Calgary. No room in a Starbucks- and Timmy-laden market.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/calgarybusiness/story.html?id=d8848f2d-bb70-480f-bd6e-3057f710cc1e

When Krispy Kreme opened its store in Calgary just over four years ago, the hype and fanfare surrounding the event had people lining up one day in advance to sink their teeth into the scrumptious doughnuts.

Today, the store no longer exists. The company signs have been taken off the building in northeast Calgary, the doors are padlocked, brown paper covers up all the windows and doors, and posted on the doors is a simple notice stating: "Sorry, this Krispy Kreme location is closed as of August 1, 2008. Thank you to our loyal customers."

A company representative told the Herald the store is a victim of Krispy Kreme's "turnaround strategy" which includes closing "underperforming stores."

Calgary never did warm up to the lone Krispy Kreme location adjacent to the Sunridge Mall in northeast Calgary over the past four and one half years of operation, said Michael Kehoe, an Alberta-based retail specialist with Fairfield Commercial Real Estate Inc.

"With only one Calgary store, the firm failed to achieve any market penetration along with the related economies that multiple locations would have provided," he said. "The coffee culture is firmly established in the Calgary market and is dominated by Tim Hortons, Starbucks, Good Earth Cafe and others. Competition is always welcome in such a competitive category. However, few Calgarians will miss Krispy Kreme."

The company was launched July 13, 1937 in Winston-Salem, NC, and developed into a cult following. That was evident in late March 2004 in Calgary when it opened its Sunridge location. People were lined up for the 6 a.m. opening including Edmonton brothers Brett and Jared Taylor who were equipped with sunscreen and blankets, setting up lawn chairs and waiting for a day and a half for the grand event.

"It's not a doughnut. It's a Krispy Kreme doughnut," said Jared Taylor in a news report at the time. About 200 doughnut lovers waited in line as well for the opening of the 4,000-square foot-store, with a drive-thru, in the Sunridge Mall parking lot.

 

[Dickens Cider]

I agree. Horton's > Just about anything else.

 

[Flash]

Haven't had a Timmy's in two years.

 

[Grimace]

The only other Krispy Kreme I knew that shut down was in the French Quarter. Couldn't compete with Cafe du Monde. Krispy Kreme is damn good, though. Way better than Dunkin'.

 

[JR]

Krappy Kreme. It's like eating deep fried lard.

When they opened here in Toronto, there was all sorts of hype, and like Calgary, people lined up hours before opening. The novelty wore off in no time at all.

It struck me at the time (and it's been confirmed by their store closings) that they sure as hell didn't do their homework because Tim OWNS the category up here. Nothing beats a double double with one of their apple fritters.

And Starbucks etc, isn't the competition. Different demographics.

 

[Grimace]

Krappy Kreme. It's like eating deep fried lard.

You're officially on my enemies list. The deep fried lard taste is what makes it so good.

 

[expendable]

Krappy Kreme. It's like eating deep fried lard.

You say that like it's bad.

 

[Huggy]

Krappy Kreme. It's like eating deep fried lard.

When they opened here in Toronto, there was all sorts of hype, and like Calgary, people lined up hours before opening. The novelty wore off in no time at all.

It struck me at the time (and it's been confirmed by their store closings) that they sure as hell didn't do their homework because Tim OWNS the category up here. Nothing beats a double double with one of their apple fritters.

And Starbucks etc, isn't the competition. Different demographics.

There was one in Mississauga that was pretty popular out of the gate but they ended up just getting killed in the GTA. There may be the odd one still in a gas station convenience store but that would be it. Trying to muscle in on the turf of the biggest kid on the block is not good bidness.

The donuts were OK to try once but their coffee sucked and they had no other reason for people to go there. Tims has so much other stuff besides coffee and donuts to get people through the door at any time, day or night.

 

[terrier]

Krispy Kreme crashed and burned in Rhode Island. Solid Dunkin' country.
Timmy's is making a decent run here, though - it bought out Bess Eaton, which was always a strong second to DD here.
Guess Patriots assistant Pepper Johnson couldn't evangelize enough for Krispy. In his book, he talked about often driving down to New York for a haircut and to hang out with his old buddies after Friday's practice, and bring back a dozen boxes for Saturday's post-walkthrough snack (even once having to guard them with his life on a train ride home after his truck crapped out).

 

[JR]

.

There was one in Mississauga that was pretty popular out of the gate but they ended up just getting killed in the GTA. There may be the odd one still in a gas station convenience store but that would be it. Trying to muscle in on the turf of the biggest kid on the block is not good bidness.

That was the other thing that made me scratch my head. Their sales pitch was how fresh their doughnuts were--you know, you could see them come off the assembly line.

So what does that leave you with if you're selling the damn things in a gas station convenience store?

"Hey, try these stale Krispy Kremes"

And yeah, their coffee was godawful. Worse than a lot of arena hockey.

 

[slappy4428]

Haven't had a Timmy's in two years.

I miss timmy's///

 

[Huggy]

Haven't had a Timmy's in two years.

Why do you hate Canuckistan Flash?

 

[Gomer]

When Tim's switched to doing more central baking, it meant the stores I used to go to no longer had fresh donuts. They also ****ed with my once-favourite donut, the venerable walnut crunch, by adding a glaze on it and basically changing the recipe as well. Consequently, I don't eat donuts anymore.

That said, it was always a guilty pleasure to stop at the Krispy Kreme in Calgary on the way home once or twice a year. My wife will not be pleased with this news.

 

[Huggy]

A friend of mine loves Tim's sour cream donuts, but they can be tough to find because most places sell sour cream glazed. As he says, "the worst thing yoiu can do to a sour cream donut is to glaze the ****ing thing."

 

[whatwoulddamondo?]

terrier, tim's u.s. stores are bleeding cash. i think wendy's has put the chain up for sale/sold it. their locations in my neck of the woods get very, very little business, but the franchisee still keeps 'em open. they're neck and neck with honey dew, imo.

kk's are good when right off the conveyor. otherwise, not so much.

 

[Mystery_Meat]

I am happy to be deepindahearta KK country. Dunkin Donuts have nothing on them. Starbucks is a surprise contender because they carry three of Top Pot's donuts. And Top Pots are made of the finest win known to man.

 

[JR]

Paging Patchs, paging Patchs.

He's got a Tim opening up in his neck of the woods (Upper NY)

 

[beardpuller]

terrier, tim's u.s. stores are bleeding cash. i think wendy's has put the chain up for sale/sold it. their locations in my neck of the woods get very, very little business, but the franchisee still keeps 'em open. they're neck and neck with honey dew, imo.

kk's are good when right off the conveyor. otherwise, not so much.

There are Tim Horton's in the U.S.??? Where?? Not where I live, sadly, or perhaps fortunately, given the potential impact on my waistline.
I thought Tim's was something you selfish Canuckistanis kept for yourselves, along with curling and Ed Willes.

 

[whatwoulddamondo?]

according to tim's web site (www.timhortons.com), they have stores in connecticut, kentucky, massachusetts, maine, michigan, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island and west virginia.

 

[Sam Mills 51]

I am happy to be deepindahearta KK country. Dunkin Donuts have nothing on them. Starbucks is a surprise contender because they carry three of Top Pot's donuts. And Top Pots are made of the finest win known to man.

I'm from the home state of Krispy Kreme. And if there's a Dunkin' Donuts nearby, I'm choosing it instead.

I thought Tim's was outstanding while I was in Toronto. Too late to get one of those in my corner of the world?