Krispy Kreme Coming Back To Ocean County And I’m Pumped

Krispy Kreme first entered my world over 20 years ago. I remember it well. I had heard this doughnut shop was opening in 2003 and that the Rat would be part of the grand opening. So I hopped in the van with the promo team, early in the AM and headed over to the new small shop on Route 70 in Brick near TGI Fridays.

Krispy Kreme was a foreign word to me then. They didn't have anywhere I had grown up in North Jersey, and Dunkin was the only corporate name I ever associated with doughnuts. I mean, Entenmann's in the store, of course. But Krispy Kreme? Boy, was I in for a surprise? What a day we had, and what a magical opening few months that franchise had. Alas, it didn't last long, and for whatever reason, by 2005, it was all over. No more red light when the glazed beauties were done, and no more white green, and red box with magic inside.

The location became Arby's and is a Sleep Number store, last I checked. 19 years. A long time without a Krispy Kreme in Ocean County. Until now...

Krispy Kreme is indeed returning to the Jersey Shore and specifically Ocean County. In fact, the new store isn't only a couple of miles down Route 70 from the old one. According to The Asbury Park Press, A Krispy Kreme Factory, which will include a drive-up window, is slated to open this fall at the Home Depot-anchored Town & Country Shopping Center at 1900 Route 70 in Lakewood, said David Townes, retail market lead for New Jersey at Jones Lang Lasalle, who represents the tenant.

Furthermore, a Krispy Kreme franchise group, which is expanding in New Jersey and has stores in Paramus, Springfield, East Rutherford, and Jersey City, has signed a lease for the 4,000-square-foot restaurant, a former McDonald's with a drive-through, Townes said.

"They're going to completely transform the building, not just interior work but exterior work," Townes said. "They're going to turn it into what they call a factory store." It will include Krispy Kreme's "glaze waterfall' and conveyor belt used to make the doughnuts.

The Press article went on to say, Krispy Kreme is home of the self-described Original Glazed Doughnut. The stores are known for their Hot Doughnuts sign which lights up when the freshly-made glazed doughnuts are on the conveyor.

Meanwhile, my adult daughter has been known to travel up to Springfield NJ from our home in Toms River to get her mitts on these doughnuts, so when I told her the news, you can imagine her reaction.

This is going to be great for the kids of the area who have never had the delicious made-in-front-of-you treat that is Krispy Kreme.

Meanwhile, in an odd coincidence, McDonalds has announced that they will be selling Krispy Kreme Doughnuts in their stores nationwide in the next year.

Apple cider donuts….yummmmm! Soft, pillowy, and oh so delightful. From the beginning of Autumn until the time Christmas arrives, people talk about these sweet tender gems as if they could not live without them.

Most of us have had them at least once. I don’t recall ever having them before I lived in New Jersey. I think I may have had them in upstate New York back in the 80’s, but my memory is vague on the subject. If I did have them, you would think I would remember clearly wrapping my lips around this sweet handheld treat. Maybe it just wasn’t a memorable experience.

I do however remember my very first apple cider donut here in New Jersey back in the late 1990’s. It was a Delicious Orchards apple cider donut, with a cup of warm cider also from Delicious Orchards during the Fall months.

I also remember a listener dropping off a couple packages of apple cider donuts to the radio station, along with a huge container of mulled cider she made in her crockpot. We added rum to the cider after she left. That’s just how we roll, always looking to up the cider game.

I once met someone from out of state who didn’t like apple cider donuts. She said, “I don’t understand why people go ape s**t over these things.” They are nothing more than dry plain donuts rolled in cinnamon sugar.” She may not have had them from some of the “go to” places here in New Jersey.

If I’m not enjoying an apple cider donut with mulled cider, I am enjoying it with a hot cup of tea, or a cold glass of milk.
There is only one thing better than eating an apple cider donut. Eating a warm, just out of the fryer or oven, apple cider donut. I know lots of places fry their donuts, but oven baked donuts are good too.
I’m sure with enough research I can formulate a recipe for these seasonal sweet treats.

60,000 square feet of absolute goodness. Fresh produce, meats, spices, teas, and a bakery that makes mountains of apple cider donuts. I can literally spend 4 hours and an entire week's pay in this place.

On their website: "At Main Street Donuts we strive to bring you old time, heart warming confections of fresh donuts, made right before your very own eyes." The homemade Apple Cider Spice donut should only leave the store accompanied by, The Apple Pie Donut- A vanilla donut with apple filling topped with vanilla lattice vanilla whip & cinnamon sugar. 

There's always a line for their freshly made Apple Cider Donuts.  However long you have to wait, it will be totally worth it.

My favorite old school donut shop has lots of Fall flavors including Cinnamon Apple Cider rolled in warm cinnamon sugar. It's hard to walk out of here without at least a dozen donuts, a few apple fritters, and a breakfast sandwich. Yeah, that was my last order.

All of the baked goods in their country store are worthy of being on your table. Dozens of pie flavors including Caramel Apple Nut, and Sweet Potato , and of course, their killer Apple Cider donuts.

Please don't stop after enjoying their incredible Maple Bacon Donut. These babies are made to order, so you're heading home with warm fresh donuts.

I had to include another old school place that makes some of the most incredible donuts. The Apple Cider Donut is absolute perfection.