Krispy Kreme Doughnuts in Cafe '84 now

Popular Southern comfort food is now available on campus; supply usually gone by 3

By ASHLEA TATE
Staff Writer

Bringing a treat that much of the rest of the country has enjoyed for years to USC, the new Krispy Kreme Doughnuts location in Café '84 is attracting droves of drooling students and staff.
Offering students, faculty and staff variety in their food selection on campus, the succulent, addictive Krispy Kreme Doughnuts opened its doors Monday in Café '84, replacing the ice cream treats once available at TCBY.
News of TCBY's bankruptcy prompted the concept, proposed by Hospitality Services last semester, to become a concrete reality in Café '84.
In response to the demand of students and the USC community at large, Krispy Kreme, amongst other ideas, was particularly chosen because it represents "more hype, more of a name and is very hot right now," said Divita Johnson, assistant manager at Café '84.
Thus far, its appearance indicates great success to come, Johnson said.
"It's exciting knowing that people are going to enjoy it," she said. "We usually receive one delivery in the morning and sell out by three."
Despite immediate success, some students think they will not be pleased with Krispy Kreme's arrival on campus in the long run.
"A doughnut is just a doughnut," said Jeff Skobin, a sophomore majoring in business. "It's a big, overrated fad like Starbucks when price is the only difference."
Alex Chesler, a freshman majoring in business, agreed. "There is also no variety," he said.
The Krispy Kreme in Café '84 offers five types of donuts, including glazed devil's food, chocolate iced custard filled, glazed sour cream and chocolate iced and glazed cream filled, the most popular item on the menu.
In comparison, other franchises provide customers with a selection from 19 different flavors of doughnuts, according to the Krispy Kreme web site.
Also, unlike the bigger chains of Krispy Kreme, the USC location's doughnuts are not served hot, indicating they are fresh out of the oven.
Krispy Kremes at USC are not directly made in Café '84 but come from the Huntington Park location on a daily basis.
The company, originating in Winston-Salem, N.C., in 1937, received great fame across the south for providing customers with high quality, best-tasting doughnuts.
What makes Krispy Kremes so appealing is their heated state, said Ashley Davis, a sophomore majoring in music industry.
Comparing Southern locations of Krispy Kreme to USC, Davis - originally from the South - said people know that if their doughnuts are heated, it is the best since they melt right in people's mouths as soon as they take a bite.
"They don't even heat them here," Davis said.
Despite the absence of heated doughnuts, the USC location contends their doughnuts are fresh and maintain the tasty, flavorful qualities that Krispy Kremes do.
Yet many miss TCBY's accustomed niche in Café '84 since "for that section of campus, TCBY used to be the yogurt spot," Davis said.
"I loved TCBY because you could have something that's cool, refreshing and sweet," said Nancy Peden, an undecided freshman.
Those with a sweet-tooth craving ice cream or frozen yogurt shouldn't worry. To accommodate the demand for ice cream lovers, Café '84 will attempt to get frozen yogurt, ice cream bars and pint sizes of ice cream, Johnson said.
Until then, customers can rely upon Krispy Kreme doughnuts to satisfy their sweet taste buds.
Such news does not please Chesler.
"I'd rather have ice cream after dinner than a doughnut," he said.
Others are worried about the nutritional value of the doughnuts.
"Krispy Kremes are primarily a breakfast food that are really bad for you and (are) fattening," Peden said.
"They're just begging for students to not gain the freshman 15 but the freshman 50," said Charles Newberger, a freshman majoring in broadcast journalism.
Despite negative reaction to Krispy Kreme's presence, many rejoice and embrace it with welcoming arms because it is conveniently located near them.
Before its opening, students desiring to savor Krispy Kreme doughnuts had to travel as far as Union City, Ontario, Orange, Van Nuys and Huntington Park.
"I drove to Irvine to get Krispy Kremes," said Shelby Jordan, a junior majoring in finance. "It was well worth it because the doughnuts are like butter, only better."
In response to a late-night craving for the doughnuts, Mike DeMarco, along with other friends, drove all the way out to Van Nuys for the doughnuts he says "are so good that you can't even describe them."
Both Jordan and DeMarco are delighted to hear of Krispy Kreme's closer location. No longer will they have to trek to the outskirts of the USC community in search of Krispy Kreme doughnuts.
Though there are mixed reviews about Krispy Kreme's appearance on campus, the fact remains that Krispy Kreme is here to stay. With that in mind, DeMarco comments that it is very beneficial to the campus for "it improves the overall quality of life."

Copyright 2000 by the Daily Trojan. All rights reserved.
This article was published in Vol. 139, No. 58 (Friday, April 14, 2000), beginning on page 1 and ending on page 11.