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Daily Dozen Doughnut Company

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Coordinates: 47°36′31″N 122°20′25″W / 47.6087°N 122.3403°W / 47.6087; -122.3403
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Daily Dozen Doughnut Company
Photograph of a stall with a display case at a market
The Daily Dozen Doughnut Company stall at Pike Place Market (2022)
Map
Restaurant information
Established1978 (1978)
Owner(s)Barbara Elza
Previous owner(s)Todd Collins
Street address93 Pike Street
CitySeattle, Washington, U.S.
Coordinates47°36′31″N 122°20′25″W / 47.6087°N 122.3403°W / 47.6087; -122.3403

Daily Dozen Doughnut Company is a doughnut shop at Seattle's Pike Place Market, in the U.S. state of Washington. Established by two sisters in 1978, the stall in the Economy Market features a "Donut Robot", and is widely known for its hot, freshly made bite-sized doughnuts that are served in a paper bag. The business has been operated by Barbara Elza since c. 1989. Daily Dozen has garnered a generally positive reception and has been favorably included in several overviews of Seattle's best doughnuts.[1][2]

Description

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Daily Dozen serves small doughnuts from a stall in the Economy Market building at Pike Place Market in Seattle's Central Waterfront district.[3] Varieties have included plain, cinnamon, sugar, maple bacon,[4] and chocolate with sprinkles,[5] as well as seasonal specials.[6] The doughnuts are typically doughnut holes, about the size of ping-pong balls, sold warm.[7] Fodor's says Daily Dozen offers "adorable, made-while-you-watch minidoughnuts dusted in powdered sugar".[8] The business's slogan is "Be a winner, have doughnuts for dinner".[9]

An automated Belshaw Brothers Mark II machine[1][10] invented in the 1930s called the "Donut Robot"[2][11] creates doughnuts in rows of four.[12] Described by the Chicago Tribune as a "mesmerizing contraption that plops rings of batter into oil", it sends the batter "down the oil river like the Jungle Cruise at Disneyland", and eventually flips the doughnuts "golden and bulbous onto cooling racks."[13] Store staff will mix the donuts and their toppings together on the spot, shaking them in paper bags, and often tossing them in the air and catching them for added showmanship.[14] The shop is cash-only.[15][16]

History

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Daily Dozen was established by two sisters in 1978.[16] The business is now owned by Barbara Elza, who has operated the shop since c. 1989.[11][17][18] Previously, the business was owned by Todd Collins.[19]

In 1997, the shop was processing 35 pounds (16 kg) of flour daily.[12] The shop was reported to sell 40,000 doughnuts in a day in 2007[20] and an average of about 20,000 doughnuts per day in 2016.[21]

In 2006, Seattle Weekly selected Daily Dozen for the "best place to pack on the pounds at a moment's notice" and said:

The hot, freshly made little gems are so deceptively nonthreatening and bite-sized that you tend to eat them like popcorn, which, in the ugly real world, can be the cause of a disturbing revelation when you look down into your paper bag and realize you've mowed your way through 12 doughnuts without so much as a burp. Powdered, chocolate-iced, sprinkled, or—our favorite—plain and golden, the goodies are a steal at a couple of bucks per dozen. But don't say we didn't warn you.[22]

Hsiao-Ching Chou of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer included Daily Dozen in a 2006 overview of "can't miss bites" and recommended, "Make sure to bring a friend or you might consume the whole bag."[23] The newspaper's Lynsi Burton included Daily Dozen in 2016 and 2018 overviews of the city's best doughnuts.[24][25] The Seattle Post-Intelligencer included the doughnuts in a 2021 list of 26 "iconic Seattle bites".[26] Stuart Eskenazi of The Seattle Times included Daily Dozen in a 2007 overview of "favorites for kids" at Pike Place Market.[27]

In 2008, Bon Appétit's Diane Chang wrote, "Enter Pike Place Market and you'll instantly be hit with the mouthwatering aroma of freshly fried batter... Their recipe hasn't changed for almost 20 years—nor have their lines gotten any shorter."[28] Daily Dozen was not listed in Andrew Knowlton's 2010 overview of "America's best donuts" for Bon Appétit, but was subsequently included in his follow-up list of reader recommendations.[29] In 2013, KOMO-TV's Lindsay Cohen described the shop as "a Pike Place Market mainstay for nearly 30 years".[30] Daily Dozen topped KSTW's 2018 list of Seattle's top five doughnut shops.[31] Allecia Vermillion of the Seattle Metropolitan included the business in a 2022 overview of the city's best doughnuts.[32]

A rainbow flag and other colorful decorations displayed at the stall

In June 2009, Elza put up a rainbow flag behind the Daily Dozen counter for Pride Month, and received a call from her landlord a week later, asking her to take it down. The dispute was soon covered by The Stranger, and the Pike Place Market Preservation and Development Authority (PDA) was flooded with angry phone calls. Elza presented her case to the PDA and the Pike Place Market Historical Commission, and was given permission to display the flag each year in June. However, in July 2012, she decided to leave the flag up indefinitely, triggering further discussions with the authority.[18][33]

In April 2012, the shop applied to expand into an adjacent space, formerly rented by a dried-fruit company. The shop owners aimed to expand the business into selling quick breads, hand-held potpies, cider, and coffee.[34] In July 2012, The Seattle Times noted that Daily Dozen did more than half of its business with locals rather than tourists.[35] In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the business received Paycheck Protection Program funding from the Small Business Administration, retaining seven employees.[36] In 2022, to commemorate Pike Place Market's 115th anniversary, the business gave free doughnuts and beverages to the first 115 guests on August 17.[37]

In 2012, the business inspired entrepreneurs to open Beavers Coffee + Donuts, a food truck in Chicago, Illinois. The food truck also makes use of a "doughnut robot" machine to cook the doughnuts.[38]

Ed Levine of Serious Eats notes that the fact that the mini doughnuts are "actually plucked from the Donut Robot 'conveyer belt'" may mean they have "a little more oil, but we won't complain".[2]

See also

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References

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Citations

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  1. ^ a b Krondl 2014, p. 72.
  2. ^ a b c Levine 2011, p. 263.
  3. ^ Balla, Lesley (June 5, 2019). "The Culinary Wonders of Seattle's Pike Place Market". Eater. Vox Media. Archived from the original on November 12, 2021. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
  4. ^ Collins, Simon (October 22, 2019). "Market research". The West Australian. Seven West Media. ISSN 0312-6323. Archived from the original on December 15, 2022. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  5. ^ "Seattle's Best Donut Shops". Thrillist. Vox Media. February 9, 2016. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  6. ^ Van Streefkerk, Mark (February 15, 2016). "Delightful Doughnuts in the Seattle Area". Eater Seattle. Vox Media. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  7. ^ Medovoy, George (October 9, 2008). "To market, to market... – Seattle's Pike Place prides itself on being the 'real thing' for crowds of shoppers". The Davis Enterprise. Archived from the original on January 11, 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  8. ^ Fodor's Travel 2017, p. 154.
  9. ^ Kossen, Bill (October 14, 2001). "A warm welcome for one red-hot treat: Local stores not worried by doughnut chain's debut". The Seattle Times. Ask Barbara Elza. She has run the tiny Daily Dozen Doughnut (slogan: "Be a winner, have doughnuts for dinner") in the Pike Place Market for 13 years.
  10. ^ Chou, Hsiao-Ching (July 31, 2002). "Deep-Fried Memories – Handmade Doughnuts Are Reinders of Simpler Days". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. p. D1. Archived from the original on January 11, 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  11. ^ a b Chynoweth, Kate (September 22, 2004). "Hole-y-grail". Sunset. ISSN 0039-5404. Archived from the original on October 22, 2022. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  12. ^ a b Polak, Monique; Shenker, Michael (September 16, 1997). "A market full of fresh experiences". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved November 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ Pang, Kevin (August 4, 2013). "The heart of Seattle: Pike Place Market brims with good food options". Chicago Tribune. p. 8. Archived from the original on December 10, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Don't Delay—Buy Doughnuts". The Seattle Examiner. July 26, 2010. Archived from the original on January 11, 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  15. ^ Grubbin' Seattle 2019, p. 137.
  16. ^ a b "Non-sleepless in Seattle: A mellow, cultured, foodie destination". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on December 19, 2022. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  17. ^ Muldoon, Katy (August 18, 2007). "To market, to market". The Oregonian. Advance Publications. p. B01 August 18, 2007. ISSN 8750-1317.
  18. ^ a b Whitely, James (October 26, 2012). "Our flag at the Market: Doughnut vendor ruffles feathers displaying pride banner". Seattle Gay News. Archived from the original on November 2, 2022. Retrieved November 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ Susskind, Jonathan (July 31, 1991). "Seattle Pair's Espresso Gets Hotter In N.Y." Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Archived from the original on January 11, 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2022. Collins, 27, a graduate of Roosevelt High and the University of Washington, owned Daily Dozen Doughnuts in the Pike Place Market.
  20. ^ Alexander, Gemma (June 1, 2017). "Prepare for a New Pike Place This Summer". ParentMap. OCLC 52150073. Archived from the original on December 15, 2022. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  21. ^ "Washington and Oregon offer everything you could want and more in the US's Northwest". Irish Examiner. August 27, 2016. As the oldest continuously open farmers market in the US and home to more than 200 stall operators, the market is the epicentre of the Seattle food scene and attracts 10 million visitors per year, or more than 20,000 a day on average. The market's Daily Dozen Doughnut Company sells about as many doughnuts each day.
  22. ^ "Best Cholesterol Fix: What's the most fat-filled, calorie-laden, artery-busting food in the world?". Seattle Weekly. Sound Publishing. October 9, 2006. ISSN 0898-0845. OCLC 17527271. Archived from the original on October 26, 2022. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
  23. ^ Chou, Hsiao-Ching (March 29, 2006). "You Gotta Try This Bite-Size Seattle Experiences That No Lover of Tasty Treats Should Miss". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. p. C1.
  24. ^ Burton, Lynsi (April 11, 2016). "Seattle's best doughnuts". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Hearst Communications. ISSN 0745-970X. OCLC 3734418. Archived from the original on October 22, 2022. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  25. ^ Burton, Lynsi (June 1, 2018). "Happy national doughnut day! Here are Seattle's best". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Archived from the original on December 19, 2022. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  26. ^ "Have you tried all 26 of these iconic Seattle bites?". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. December 20, 2021. Archived from the original on July 17, 2022. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  27. ^ Eskenazi, Stuart (July 23, 2007). "High on sugar & silly string, loose at the market; Pike Place at 100 – My Market: "The Kids"". The Seattle Times. p. A1.
  28. ^ Chang, Diane (October 2008). "Local Flavor". Bon Appétit.
  29. ^ Knowlton, Andrew (March 12, 2010). "America's Best Donuts, Part 2". Bon Appétit. Condé Nast. ISSN 0006-6990. Archived from the original on October 26, 2022. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
  30. ^ Cohen, Lindsay (February 6, 2013). "Report: Microsoft, Boeing stash money offshore to dodge tax bills". KOMO-TV. Archived from the original on October 26, 2022. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
  31. ^ "Sweet Treats: Check Out The Top 5 Doughnut Shops In Seattle". KSTW. May 8, 2018. Archived from the original on October 27, 2022. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  32. ^ "Behold, the Best Doughnuts in Seattle". Seattle Metropolitan. Archived from the original on November 29, 2022. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  33. ^ Brown, Alexander P. (June 29, 2004). "No Pride at Pike Place Market". The Stranger. Archived from the original on December 15, 2022. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  34. ^ "Longtime Pike Place Market restaurant to close". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. April 16, 2012. Archived from the original on January 11, 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  35. ^ Denn, Rebekah (July 10, 2012). "Five things you didn't know about Pike Place Market (and a cookbook!)". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on November 4, 2022. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
  36. ^ Giegerich, Andy (July 7, 2020). "Here are the Washington companies approved for at least $5M in PPP loans". Puget Sound Business Journal. Archived from the original on January 11, 2023. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  37. ^ Baume, Matt (August 15, 2022). "Happy 115th Birthday to Pike Place! Here's a Doughnut". The Stranger. ISSN 1935-9004. Archived from the original on October 22, 2022. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  38. ^ Pang, Kevin (February 16, 2012). "Eat this!". Chicago Tribune. ProQuest 921564217. Retrieved December 13, 2022.

Bibliography

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