Krispy Kreme Doughnuts coming back to the Jersey Shore after nearly 20 years

LAKEWOOD - Are you ready for a hot Original Glazed Doughnut? Krispy Kreme Doughnuts is coming back to the Jersey Shore.

A Krispy Kreme Factory, which will include a drive-up window, is slated to open this fall at the Home Depot-anchored Town & Country Shopping Center at 1900 Route 70 in Lakewood, said David Townes, retail market lead for New Jersey at Jones Lang Lasalle, who represents the tenant.

A Krispy Kreme franchise group, which is expanding in New Jersey and has stores in Paramus, Springfield, East Rutherford and Jersey City, has signed a lease for the 4,000-square-foot restaurant, a former McDonald's with a drive-through, Townes said.

"They're going to completely transform the building, not just interior work but exterior work," Townes said. "They're going to turn it into what they call a factory store." It will include Krispy Kreme's "glaze waterfall' and conveyor belt used to make the doughnuts.

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"My client really wanted to plant a flag at the Jersey Shore and they can access a big population of New Jersey from this location on Route 70," he said. "It's a great location right off the Parkway."

It's been nearly two decades since Krispy Kreme had a store in Ocean County. In 2003, a different franchisee opened a store on Route 70 in Brick, but the shop closed in 2005.

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Mayor Ray Coles said he was happy to hear Krispy Kreme was coming to Lakewood. "It's a unique business," he said. "There is going to be a real appetite for it."

Krispy Kreme is home of the self-described Original Glazed Doughnut. The stores are known for their Hot Doughnuts sign which lights up when the freshly-made glazed doughnuts are on the conveyor.

"Yes, the rumors are true, Krispy Kreme is coming to Lakewood NJ," the company said in a statement. "We are honored and humbled to announce the Grand Opening of a Krispy Kreme Factory in Lakewood NJ this upcoming Fall 2024."

David P. Willis, an award-winning business writer, has covered business, retail, real estate and consumer news at the Asbury Park Press for more than 25 years. He writes APP.com's What's Going There column and can be reached at [email protected]. Please sign up for his weekly newsletter and join his What's Going There page on Facebook for updates.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Krispy Kreme Doughnuts opening in Lakewood NJ this fall