For the moment, Homewood appears to be the doughnut capital of the Chicago metropolitan area.
In addition to Pearson’s Bakery and two Dunkin’ Donuts shops, the first Krispy Kreme shop in the Chicago area opened at 6 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10, at 17815 Halsted St. after a seven-year absence from the area. Doughnut lovers have been flocking to town since.
at the Krispy Kreme drive-through. (Photos by Eric
Crump/H-F Chronicle)
For the moment, Homewood appears to be the doughnut capital of the Chicago metropolitan area.
In addition to Pearson’s Bakery and two Dunkin’ Donuts shops, the first Krispy Kreme shop in the Chicago area opened at 6 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10, at 17815 Halsted St. after a seven-year absence from the area. Doughnut lovers have been flocking to town since.
There has been a steady stream of doughnut-lovers lined up at the shop since Monday night, according to Carlos Larcada, owner of Chicagoland Restaurants LLC.
Saturday at Krispy Kreme on
Halsted Street in Homewood.
On Saturday afternoon, Jan. 14, the line of cars waiting in the drive-through line stretched south along the frontage road, east to the shopping center entrance road and north in front of Home Depot.
The line was there all night, according to Larcada. He said he expected the shop to be busy, but “this is incredible.”
doughnuts Saturday. Several
drivers reported waiting in
the drive-through line for
about two hours.
He estimated the store had sold about 170,000 doughnuts in its first days of operation. His staff has been working longer hours than expected, and he has posted workers at the drive-through entrance to help manage traffic flow and insure pedestrian safety.
“It’s exciting,” he said of the business volume. “It’s a good problem to have.”
Anthony Johnson of South Holland said it took him two hours to get through the line. As a big fan of Krispy Kreme when it previously had stores in the area, he said he had to try some from the new shop. But he said he probably wouldn’t wait in line that long again.
There was also a line of customers waiting to get in the store, although it was shorter and took less time.
Joan Poole of Calumet City said it took her a little more than 45 minutes to get her doughnuts.
“It was worth it,” she said. “I was prepared, though.”
She said waiting in line and chatting with other customers was not a bad way to spend part of a Saturday afternoon.
Mark Parker of Matteson took a similar view, although he admitted he didn’t spend the time by choice.
“My wife made me,” he said. But since his family had completed its regular Saturday activities, he didn’t begrudge the time it took to get everyone a treat.
The shop is open daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. The drive-through is open 24 hours every day.
