Voodoo Doughnut

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Voodoo Doughnut
Voodoo Baron Logo.png
Portland, OR (DSC 0242).jpg
The exterior of Voodoo Doughnut's flagship location in Old Town Chinatown Portland, Oregon
Restaurant information
Slogan"The Magic is in the Hole"
Established2003; 18 years ago (2003)[1]
Owner(s)Richard "Tres" Shannon III
Kenneth "Cat Daddy" Pogson[2][3]
Food typeDoughnuts
Dress codeCasual
Street address22 Southwest 3rd Avenue
CityPortland
StateOregon
Country United States
Coordinates45°31′22″N 122°40′23″W / 45.5227°N 122.6731°W / 45.5227; -122.6731Coordinates: 45°31′22″N 122°40′23″W / 45.5227°N 122.6731°W / 45.5227; -122.6731
Websitewww.voodoodoughnut.com

Voodoo Doughnut is an American doughnut company based in Portland, Oregon with a current total of 11 stores in California, Colorado, Florida, Oregon, and Texas.[4] The company has been featured on television series including: No Reservations, Man v. Food, and Doughnut Paradise in addition to being included in a joke during a segment on The Tonight Show.[5][6][7]

History[]

The former exterior of the flagship location in Portland

Voodoo Doughnut was founded in May 2003[8] by Kenneth “Cat Daddy” Pogson and Richard "Tres" Shannon III. The company's logo features a version of Baron Samedi, Voodoo Loa of the dead.[9] During the business's first few years, it was only open at night.[8]

The original location closed between April to June 2011 for remodeling after the company acquired space next door that was formerly occupied by a nightclub called Berbati's Pan. Much of the expansion involved creating additional room for the kitchen.[10]

In August 2011, Voodoo Doughnut's staff constructed an enlarged version of its box for the Portland Bridge Festival that contained 3,880 doughnuts.[11] The box was filled with smaller boxes and topped off with individual doughnuts until it reached 666 lbs, a number which, as Shannon explained, was chosen to go along with the company's voodoo theme.[12] According to NBC News, it was the biggest box of doughnuts in the world.[13]

Also in 2011, Voodoo Doughnut began partnering with Rogue Ales to convert several of its doughnut flavors into bottled beer. These have included: Bacon Maple Ale and Chocolate, Peanut Butter, and Banana Ale.[14] The latter was taken from its Memphis Mafia doughnut, which serves a tribute to Elvis Presley. That same year, the Los Angeles Times declared Voodoo Doughnut an international tourist attraction.[15]

In April 2017, a man choked to death while attempting to consume a half-pound doughnut within 80 seconds at the Colfax Avenue location in Denver. The eating contest was a long-running tradition at other locations as well. According to the contest's rules, anyone capable of eating the entire cake-sized treat would receive a commemorative pin and not have to pay for the doughnut.[16] The tradition has been suspended since this incident.[17][18]

Unionization[]

In 2020, workers at the downtown Portland location began an effort to unionize and formed an organization called the Doughnut Workers United.[19][20] Requests for increased security was one of the things sought by the union following an incident involving a man armed with a hatchet in March 2020.[21] Their efforts to officially unionize and have the organization recognized by the company's management failed after a tie vote in June 2021, but organizers vowed to try again.[22][23]

During a historic heatwave in June 2021, several workers at the same location staged a walkout after arguing that working conditions were unsafe. Employees reported temperatures as high as 96 degrees Fahrenheit within the shop and one claimed that he felt close to passing out from the heat. A total of three employees were later fired for the incident.[24]

Doughnuts[]

Bacon-Maple bar
Voodoo doughnut pink box
In addition to the Portland Cream doughnut, a variation of the Boston Cream doughnut), Voodoo Doughnut also makes a Cock and Balls doughnut that has cream filled "balls"[25]

Voodoo Doughnut offers over 100 varieties.[10]

Two of their doughnuts, the NyQuil Glazed doughnut and the Vanilla Pepto Crushed Tums doughnut, are no longer available due to an order from local health officials. According to one of the company's co-owners, "The NyQuil one was kind of a lark, but that's the one that got the most famous. With the Pepto doughnut, I honestly thought if you had that shot of tequila you shouldn't have at 2:00 a.m., and then you got sugar, bread, Pepto, and Tums, you'd either feel better or puke your ass off and then feel better because you got it out of your system. So it was a win-win either way."[26]

On December 24, 2008, Voodoo Doughnut's Portland Creme doughnut was designated Portland's "Official City Doughnut" by a resolution introduced by Portland Mayor Tom Potter and passed by city commissioners the same night.[9] The resolution also expressed Portlanders' "deepest gratitude to Voodoo Doughnut management for its dedication in the face of these stringent economic times in providing employment opportunities... and above all, creating and naming a doughnut after our beloved city that leaves a lasting taste and fond memories on its customers near and far away."[27] Later, Mayor Potter and mayoral candidate Sam Adams attended a midnight doughnut-eating contest.[15]

Operations[]

As of July 2021, the company has eleven locations.[28] [29] The first opened in 2003[15] at 22 Southwest 3rd Avenue[30] in the Old Town Chinatown neighborhood of Portland. To celebrate their fifth anniversary, Voodoo Doughnut opened a second branch at 1501 Northeast Davis Street named Voodoo Doughnut Too in the Kerns neighborhood.[3] The operation began with a "soft opening" on May 30, 2008 with limited hours. The official opening was in June 2008 and featured a parade that traveled from the original location to the new one.[1][31] A location in Taipei also launched in 2015 but is no longer in business.[32]

Wedding services[]

Voodoo Doughnut offers legal wedding services followed by doughnuts and coffee.[33] In an effort to "ritualize" the name “Voodoo,” both Pogson and Shannon became ordained ministers of the Universal Life Church, and subsequently performed both real and fake wedding ceremonies in their shops.[9]

Television[]

The "Captain My Captain" doughnut, featuring vanilla frosting and Cap'n Crunch cereal

Voodoo Doughnut has been featured on television series including: No Reservations,[34] Man v. Food, and Doughnut Paradise.[35]

Jay Leno included a joke about Voodoo Doughnut during a 2004 Tonight Show opening monologue and said: "Did you hear about the doughnut shop in Portland, Oregon, that has caffeinated doughnuts? Yeah, I guess you can stay awake during your bypass surgery."[36]

Voodoo Doughnut Recordings[]

In 2013, Voodoo Doughnut founders, Cat Daddy and Tres, started a record label named Voodoo Doughnut Recordings with the intent of establishing a catalog of doughnut-related music to help promote the company's brand.[37][38] Early novelty acts included The Deep Fried Boogie Band and The Doughnut Boys.[39] The label expanded to other artists such as Poison Idea,[37] The Dandy Warhols,[40] Dead Moon,[41] Smegma,[41] Jerry Joseph,[42] Devin Millar, and Hazel.[43] The label also releases recordings of comedians such as Ian Karmel.[41]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "Voodoo Doughnuts To Open New Shop". Portland Mercury. May 21, 2008. Retrieved June 3, 2008.
  2. ^ About Voodoo Doughnut from the company's website
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b Voodoo Child: A peek at Voodoo Doughnut Too Archived 2008-10-07 at the Wayback Machine from Willamette Week
  4. ^ "Voodoo Doughnut | Locations | Find your closest real life shop!". Voodoo Doughnut. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  5. ^ Anthony Bourdain Visits the Pacific Northwest from the Travel Channel website
  6. ^ Donut Paradise: The Ultimate Deep-Fried Treat from the Travel Channel website,
  7. ^ Nicholas, Jonathan (January 5, 2004). "DEPT. OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS". The Oregonian. pp. D01.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b "Doughnut Shop: Voodoo Doughnut". Believer Magazine. August 1, 2006. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Voodoo Doughnut". The Oregon Encyclopedia. Portland State University and the Oregon Historical Society. March 17, 2018. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b Voodoo Doughnut to Close Downtown Store for Renovation, Expansion The Oregonian.
  11. ^ Beaven, Steve; Oregonian, The (August 12, 2011). "That gigantic pink box of Voodoo Doughnuts may just set a world record". oregonlive. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  12. ^ "World's largest box of doughnuts weighs in at 666 pounds". TODAY.com. August 10, 2011. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  13. ^ "The Sorta Secret History of National Donut Day". NBC News. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  14. ^ Goldfarb, Aaron (August 28, 2019). "How Rogue Voodoo Doughnut Ale Went From Troll Beer to Sensation". . Retrieved September 24, 2020.
  15. ^ Jump up to: a b c Sewell, Abby (February 20, 2011). "Voodoo Doughnuts: In Portland, Ore., nothing says commitment like a Voodoo Doughnut". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 3, 2011. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
  16. ^ "Voodoo Doughnuts suspends eating challenge after man dies". KATU. KATU. April 4, 2017. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  17. ^ "Colorado Man Dies Choking on a Doughnut in Bakery Eating Challenge". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  18. ^ Sylte, Allison; Biassou, Krystyna (April 3, 2017). "Man who choked to death at Voodoo Doughnut identified". KUSA.com. Retrieved April 23, 2021. The manager at the shop confirmed to 9NEWS a person died in their lobby, but wouldn't say anything else.
  19. ^ McIntosh, Don (March 20, 2020). "At Portland icon Voodoo Doughnuts, workers announce they've formed a union". Northwest Labor Press. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
  20. ^ Burley, Shane (May 1, 2020). "Coronavirus fight: Some US worker unions become more aggressive". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  21. ^ Acker, Lizzy (March 8, 2020). "Man with a hatchet robs Voodoo Doughnut, police say suspect found eating a doughnut". oregonlive. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  22. ^ Tabrizian, Ardeshir (June 29, 2021). "Old Town Voodoo Doughnut staff walk out amid record heat". oregonlive. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  23. ^ Peel, Sophie (June 28, 2021). "Voodoo Doughnut Workers Go on Strike, Claiming Sweaty Shop Conditions". Willamette Week. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  24. ^ Tabrizian, Ardeshir (July 2, 2021). "Voodoo Doughnut fires employees who walked out during heat wave, workers say". oregonlive. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  25. ^ Walker, Tim (May 17, 2016). "This Portland doughnut shop is #FeelingTheBern". Retrieved June 29, 2016.
  26. ^ Voodoo Doughnut from the August 2006 issue of The Believer
  27. ^ "Portland sprinkles award on official city doughnut". Oregon Local News. May 17, 2016. Archived from the original on December 25, 2008. Retrieved December 24, 2008.
  28. ^ "Voodoo Doughnut | Locations | Find your closest real life shop!". Voodoo Doughnut. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  29. ^ "Voodoo Doughnuts Opens New Location On McLoughlin Blvd in Milwaukie Today". KXL. September 7, 2020. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  30. ^ Tres Shannon (Voodoo Founder) (August 2011). "Hoods". Finder. Willamette Week. p. 54. Retrieved January 30, 2012. ... Voodoo Doughnut, ...(22 Southwest 3rd Ave., 241-4704, voodoodoughnut.com). ... But I love that there’s still a porn theater where the Paris Theatre was (New Paris Theatre, 6 Northwest 3rd Ave., 295-7808). They’re great neighbors.
  31. ^ "In the Mix, FOODday". The Oregonian. June 3, 2008. Retrieved June 3, 2008.
  32. ^ Williams, Todd Allen (July 7, 2015). "Taipei Is Finally Weird Enough for Its Own Voodoo Doughnut". Vice. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  33. ^ [1] from the company's website
  34. ^ Anthony Bourdain Visits the Pacific Northwest from the Travel Channel website
  35. ^ Donut Paradise: The Ultimate Deep-Fried Treat from the Travel Channel website,
  36. ^ Nicholas, Jonathan (January 5, 2004). "DEPT. OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS". The Oregonian. pp. D01.
  37. ^ Jump up to: a b "Interview: Tres Shannon, co-owner of Voodoo Doughnut". Colorado Public Radio. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
  38. ^ "Voodoo Doughnut Recordings". Vortex Music Magazine. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
  39. ^ "7 things to know about Voodoo Doughnut's record label". oregonlive.com. January 3, 2014. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
  40. ^ "The Dandy Warhols Set to Drop Two Records This April Including 'Nothin' To Do' Live at The X-Ray Cafe [Song Premiere]". Vortex Music Magazine. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
  41. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Locals Only: Tres Shannon (Voodoo Doughnut)". modern-vinyl.com. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
  42. ^ "Jerry Joseph, Voodoo Doughnut Recordings, & Lower Boom : The Confluence". Retrieved April 28, 2019.
  43. ^ "Dead Moon live album to offer a first peek at Voodoo's unearthed rock archive". oregonlive.com. December 30, 2014. Retrieved April 28, 2019.

External links[]

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