Krispy Kreme rolls out doughnuts

Like New Year's revelers waiting for the ball to drop, a throng of 300 waited at Cranberry Mall in pre-dawn darkness for the opening of the first Krispy Kreme doughnut shop in western Pennsylvania.

Some, including Nancy Feyrer of McCandless, had camped out for more than a day in order to be the first in line. She began her doughnut vigil at 8:15 a.m. Monday. For her perseverance, she was given the privilege of counting down the seconds to the 5:30 a.m. opening.

'Nan-cee! Nan-cee!' the crowd chanted.

At 5:28 a.m., Katie McCormick, 15, of Mars, sang the national anthem. Feyrer counted down the final seconds, and the round sign hanging in the window blazed forth in neon glory with the message: 'Hot Doughnuts Now.' For Krispy Kreme fanatics, this is the equivalent of 'Surf's up.'

Founded in Winston-Salem, N.C., in 1937 with $25 and ingredients borrowed from a local grocer, Krispy Kreme now has more than 185 stores throughout the country. Their best-seller is the yeast-raised glazed doughnut, made from a special recipe that founder Vernon Rudolph purchased from a New Orleans chef in 1933. The company produces 3 million doughnuts a day and more than 1.3 billion per year. Once strictly a Southern phenomenon, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts has expanded out west and into the northeast.

Feyrer first tasted Krispy Kremes while on vacation in North Carolina about five years ago. 'I tried it and they were the best,' she said. 'The rest is history.'

Feyrer even named her cairn terrier Sir Krispy Kreme in honor of her favorite snack. Lending moral support during her vigil were sons John Feyrer and Steele Walters, along with their friend Heather Punzak.

'I stayed awake all night and those young kids slept,' she said. Of her husband, Dan and three children, 'They were so great with it. They said 'Go for it.' ''

'It's so wonderful,' she said of the local opening. 'I don't have to carry them home on an airplane. I don't have to drive 3 ½ hours to Ohio. I can get them right here in Pittsburgh.'

The line moved quickly Tuesday morning. Which tends to happen when you can make 500 dozen doughnuts per hour. The Cranberry Krispy Kreme doughnut shop is expected to sell more than 100,000 doughnuts.

At least eight other Krispy Kreme shops are planned for the greater Pittsburgh area. A second store should be open at Century III Mall in West Mifflin by the end of this year. Other possible sites include Monroeville, East Liberty and Robinson Town Centre. The Pittsburgh Pirates have expressed interest, says Harold Leininger, president of Metz & Associates, owners of the Krispy Kreme Franchise for western Pennsylvania.

'We should be in there by next year,' he said.

The sugar spheres enticed toddlers, business people and college students.

Business suits waited alongside delivery truck uniforms, cell phones and beepers, sandals and sweatshirts.

Aaron Ptak of Penn Hills, 19, had secured his place at 8 p.m. Monday evening. 'I thought we were standing in line for Star Wars,' joked Chase Conrad, 21, of Munhall, on his reason for waiting overnight in line.

'I wanted to be the first black guy to come in and have a doughnut,' cracked Chris Grant, 19, a sophomore at Geneva College.

'Years ago, I used to travel for my job,' said Bob Swaskoski, 36. 'Every town I'd go to, first thing I'd do is crack a phone book and look for a Krispy Kreme. It's been a long time coming to Pittsburgh.'

Swaskoski had the keen pleasure of watching Sandy Galat, 53, of Zelienople, bite into her first-ever Krispy Kreme doughnut experience.

'Trust me, it's worth it,' he advised Galat. 'This is going to be the best doughnut you ever tasted.'

Galat's groan of pleasure spoke volumes.

To receive a hero's welcome at your place of employment, simply bring a couple dozen Krispy Kreme doughnuts into work.

Allegra Gulli, 26, of Pittsburgh, waited to buy four dozen Krispy Kreme doughnuts for co-workers at AT&T Broadband. Behind her stood Mark Ziegenfuss, 33, of Marshall. Last year, his in-laws sent him a dozen Krispy Kreme doughnuts from Arizona. By overnight mail. Because freshness is everything.

'My wife grew up in Virginia,' he says. 'We heard they were coming to the area. We were excited.'

Mary Ellen Marti of Marshall sat her mini-van in the line for the drive-through window shortly before 6 a.m. Son Michael, 10, waited in the passenger seat. They'd risen at 5 a.m.

'I thought I was crazy,' Marti said. 'I didn't know there were this many crazy people.'

William Loeffler can be reached at (412) 320-7986 or wloeffler@tribweb.com .