The donuts of yesteryear

By Domenico Bettinelli, Jr. ( articles - email ) | Jun 24, 2003

Leila,

Now we're talking about an important subject! You reminded me of a small donut shop that used to be in Canton, MA, when I was a wee lad. I can't even remember the name of the place--it closed before I was 10 years old because of the Dunkin Donuts that opened literally next door--but I vividly still recall the Sunday I was walking home from Mass with my brothers and sisters when we had stopped in for our donut and I dropped mine on the street. It was a crushing blow that lingers in my psyche today. Now those were donuts!

The small pasty thing they sell today in the chains bears no resemblance. Even Dunkin Donuts is downplaying the Donut in their shops, instead pushing the now-ubiquitous bagels. The donut has become an afterthought to DD's real business: coffee. There's a DD just about across the street from my house and every morning for several hours cars are lined up in the street waiting to get in so the commuters can get their caffeine fix. And there's 3 other outlets within a mile of the place!

I've heard so many raving about the Krispy Kreme, I have begun to have faint hopes that a real donut may be available for purchase out there. When they open one in my neck of the woods, I'll have my chance to see. But it won't be the same as --now I remember!-- Charlie's Donuts.