St. Paul and Minneapolis-area residents get to reconnect with a glazed friend this week after 17 years apart.
Krispy Kreme Doughnuts returns to Minnesota on Wednesday when its doors open at 8 a.m. in Fridley, allowing patrons to reunite with their Original Glazed doughnuts and seasonal offerings.
“We’re thrilled to return to the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, a location where fans have been asking us to come back for nearly two decades,” said CEO Josh Charlesworth, in a company news release.
The 12,000-square-foot shop, located at 5696 University Ave. near Caribou Coffee, Duluth Trading Co. and Interstate 694, was renovated from a former CVS Pharmacy.
“This strategic location allows us to serve Minnesotans across the state, and we can’t wait to bring the most amazing doughnut experience imaginable back to the community,” Charlesworth said.
Founded in 1937, the North Carolina-based doughnut and coffee chain came to Minnesota in 2002. By 2004 it had grown to eight stores across the state and a production facility in New Brighton.
By the end of 2008, however, Krispy Kreme had vacated the state. At the time, some said they grew too big too fast and others thought fad diets that shunned carbs helped do them in.
Since then, local Krispy Kreme lovers have taken to the road, driving over three hours to the next nearest stores in Ankeny, Clive and Des Moines, Iowa.
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If Fridley still seems too long of a trek, all hope is not lost as the company also said the new shop will “produce doughnuts for delivery to select retailers across Minnesota.” Representatives from Krispy Kreme did not immediately respond to a Pioneer Press request for comment regarding the additional retailers.
The new store will be open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays through Thursday and 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, according to Krispy Kreme.
