Doughnut War: Local David Vs. Franchise Goliath
Chelsea Donut Pub Takes On National Dunkin’ Donuts
The stakes in the doughnut war shaping up in Chelsea aren’t just about who gets to serve fatty, frivolous and delicious treats to residents.
Whoever wins will get to help define the landmark Manhattan neighborhood for the future as it struggles between preserving its local character and gentrification.
The war pits the 43-year-old Donut Pub, a local shop, against a franchise Dunkin’ Donuts. The chain already has 400 locations around the five boroughs.
Donut Pub owner Buzzy Geduld says it’s the old “David and Goliath” story. But the 63-year-old owner says he thinks that the pub has a good slingshot.
Dunkin’ Donuts spokesman Andrew Mastrangelo says the new store won’t trample over local ones.
Besides its frosted and glazed goodies, the Donut Pub is known for offering stools to customers around a tightly-packed, if drab, diner counter. Customers call it homey. The Dunkin’ Donuts is not open yet, but will be steps away from the pub.
Clients of the pub say they are angry about the chain’s intentions. Tom Cahill says he has a problem with the “corporate mentality” that makes neighborhoods “less neighborhoody.”
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