Date: Fri 09-Jul-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: JEFF

Quick Words:

Doughnut-Hut-business

Full Text:

Doughnut Hut: New Help For The Hungry On Route 25

(with photo)

BY JEFF WHITE

If the atmosphere of Doughnut Hut seems friendly, it is because owners Maria

DeAnguila and Sandy Siciliano have been friends for almost 10 years, rearing

seven children together. They are the proprietors of Newtown's newest shop

dedicated to that beloved pastry, the doughnut, and this past week they

celebrated their fourth week of operation in Ricky's Shopping Center on Route

25.

"Things are gong well," said Mrs DeAnguila, 36. "But customers still don't

know we're here."

They haven't been there for long. Mrs DeAnguila, who worked at Doughnut Inn in

Bethel for 10 years, only got the keys for the shop during the last week of

April this year. Passers-by could have found Mrs DeAnguila and Mrs Siciliano,

41, painting the walls of the store past midnight many evenings throughout

May.

A little over a month later, they put on their first pot of coffee and opened

their doors.

From the outset, Mrs DeAnguila and Mrs Siciliano (their husbands, Richard

DeAnguila and Luciano Siciliano, are co-owners) have sought to develop and

maintain a regular, early morning customer base. With pots of steaming La

Touraine coffee (regular and flavored) ready by 5:30 am, a rack of local and

regional newspapers, and easy access off Route 25, commuters in a hurry can

still call their orders in ahead of time.

On wooden display racks, a large selection of doughnuts greets customers at

any time of the day. Traditional favorites, like chocolate glazed and French

crullers, share shelf space with jelly twists and cinnamon dough.

The doughnuts at Doughnut Hut are different, according to Mrs DeAnguila. "They

are more like cake doughnuts, made fresh every day," she said.

The doughnut selection is complimented with a variety of muffins, scones,

fresh baked cookies, and bagels, along with different breakfast sandwich

specials daily.

Mrs DeAnguila and Mrs Siciliano answer the call of a hot summer day with iced

coffee and a large selection of Snapple and soft drinks.

The Doughnut Hut is a labor of love for its owners. Mrs DeAnguila and Mrs

Siciliano arrive at the store between 3:30 and 4 am, and do not leave until

the store closes at 6 pm. The two rotate morning duties; one stays at the

store to bake the muffins, bagels, and cookies, while the other travels to

Derby to pick up the doughnuts made fresh at a town doughnut shop.

The owners have plans for the near future. They are having a grand opening

event all day on Saturday, July 10, where there will be a variety of $1.95

specials, along with a raffle to win a mountain bike.

They also hope to get in some different products, such as smoothies and

different iced coffees, along with Doughnut Hut travel coffee mugs.

They count on taking part in the Labor Day parade, providing Pepsi's, chips,

and basic doughnuts for parade watchers.

Doughnut Hut is open Monday through Friday from 5:30 am until 6 pm; Saturdays

from 5:30 am until 4 pm; and Sundays from 7 am until 2 pm. The store is

located at the far left of the row of stores in Ricky's shopping center.