Matt Rohdie is about to do something he said he’d never do. Come November 15, the Carpe Donut owner will open a brick and mortar store. He’ll be sharing the space, at 1715 Allied St. in McIntire Plaza, with its existing inhabitant, Mike McBlair’s Wahoo Ridge Catering, and teaming up to provide an organic breakfast takeaway service. Together, they’ll offer Carpe Donut’s fluffy sinkers, McBlair’s organic breakfast burrito and a few other breakfast items from 7:30-10am, Monday-Saturday.
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Donut master Matt Rohdie will soon sling the sweet, all-natural treats from a storefront space in McIntire Plaza. |
Rohdie’s sudden change of heart can be attributed to three words: supply and demand. In the last year, Carpe Donut has doubled its event bookings and can no longer keep up with the wholesale orders. To combat that, CD is making some changes.
First, the operation will switch from a sole proprietorship to an LLC and give employees an opportunity to buy a share in the company. Rohdie says that sense of ownership has always been a guiding philosophy for the family-run business. “The fact that the owner is sitting in the window makes a real difference,” he says.
Second, the donut cart will no longer make the trip Downtown. CD will be present at the upcoming Spirit Walk, this season’s last few concerts at the Pavilion and even the Vintage Virginia Apple Harvest Festival in the county, but Rohdie says it makes more sense to be open six days a week rather than one morning a week Downtown. Plus, he tells us he’ll post Twitter and Facebook updates to announce when the shop is open during donut production. Translation: An opportunity to grab sugary goodness right out of the oven.
Last, Rohdie says he has even bigger plans for the business—like a delivery option and an expansion to the 24 other Whole Foods locations in the mid-Atlantic region. (CD is already sold in the Charlottesville and Short Pump Whole Foods.) After that? He hints: “There’s 273 Whole Foods in the U.S.…And none of them have a donut machine.”
Dough nuts
In other donut news, owner Andy Rod is all set to open his Corner-located Dunkin’ Donuts, which Restaurantarama reported on a few months back, later this week. The grand opening ceremony, on October 22, will feature Mayor Dave Norris, Dunkin’ brand CEO Nigel Travis and a whole lotta DD treats.
Breakfast all night?
It’s the most important meal of the day, you know. And, says Bluegrass Grill & Bakery general manager Chrissy Benninger, soon you’ll be able to eat it long after the morning’s gone. Beginning October 21, the Glass Building eatery will be open evenings, Thursday to Saturday. The hours aren’t set in stone yet, but Benninger says doors will open at 5pm.
Toliver redo
Here’s the buzz from Gordonsville: The Toliver House is under new management. Donna Sharer, a Savannah transplant, took the reins last month and so far, she says, it’s been “a lot of construction and getting the phones working.” But, she plans to revamp the menu and freshen everything up to “get the old place back on track.”
