Grabbing a bite with Joey Wright
Each week, we chop it up with the folks
responsible for dishing up food around the area. What restaurant should we try next? Let Joey Wright know at jwright@news-gazette.com.Ye Olde Donut Shoppe in Champaign has been a go-to destination for morning treats since 1956.
That’s in part because the local staple hasn’t deviated from what its fans have come to expect.
“Our niche is just doing simpler, more traditional donuts that were always available when I was a kid,” manager Rob Cooper said. “We pride ourselves on working with all real and natural ingredients and just trying to keep to our traditions.”
Cooper credits a strong staff with helping the restaurant’s successes over the years. And plenty of familiar faces have stopped by during its long history.
“We have a lot of regular customers that we just look out for them and set things aside knowing that they’re going to come by,” Cooper said. “It feels like a very personal, mom-and-pop type of business, and I think people are happy to support those types of businesses.”
Ye Olde’s donut offerings — including cake, sour cream and yeast — are relatively straightforward, as is its operation. The restaurant doesn’t take pre-orders through its website, though they welcome them by phone, via text or through social media.
But Cooper emphasizes a commitment to quality as an aspect that’s helped Ye Olde stand apart from the rest of the pack.
“Quality is our highest priority, definitely,” Cooper said, adding that arriving early is the best way to ensure fans’ favorite donuts will be in stock.
