Chocolate Glazed

A Dunkin' Donuts has recently opened next to Dee Dee Donuts a few blocks from me. Dee Dee Donuts is run down and cramped and in desperate need of a sign fixing. Still, it is sad knowing that a big chain will probably destroy a local business.

Everytime I walk by the store, the differences between the two donuts shops are apparent from across the street. Today's NY Times has an article about this David vs. Goliath donut war.

Indeed, during what might be called the doughnut rush hour around 9 a.m. last Tuesday, it was somewhat crowded inside Dee Dee's confined space. Seated at the window eating an egg-and-cheese sandwich was Magda Romero, who was asked why she chose Dee Dee over Dunkin'.

"Because it's cheaper, and it's been here forever, as long as I've been here," Ms. Romero said. "It seems like these bigger chain stores want to close them down."

Seated next to her in a green corduroy cap and matching flannel shirt, a man named Joe offered his thoughts.

"There are still hard-working people left here who need places like this," he said. "Dunkin' Donuts is notoriously expensive." He took a few bites of his bacon, egg and cheese on a roll and pondered the idea.

"But what do I know?" he added. "I'm a cheapskate."

But who knows, maybe there are enough cheapskates and Brendans (read comments) out there to keep Dee Dee Donuts afloat. Maybe they need to hold weekly poetry slams there to drum up some business. Lungfull! magazine might have a new outlet to expand! Maybe they could hold seminars on the art of donut making so they can become not only the "only literary & art journal in America that prints the rough drafts of people's work so you can see the creative process as it happens" but also the "only literary & art journal in America that trumpets the art of donut making so you can see the creative process as it happens."


A rough draft of a sign.