Back Door Donuts isn’t going anywhere

The doughnut shop had launched a petition with almost 8,000 signatures raising concerns the town would shut it down.

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Back Door Donuts reps have agreed to continue working on minimizing its noise impact on neighbors by limiting its late-night queue. — MV Times

Concerns over the future of the iconic Back Door Donuts bakery were quelled Tuesday afternoon, after the Oak Bluffs Select Board emphasized that their discussion regarding the bakery was merely to review the business’s recent operations.

Last week, owners of the iconic eatery took to social media, urging fans to show their support at an upcoming meeting where, they claimed that a disconcerted neighbor — who’s complained that the bakery’s long wait lines are the cause of late night disturbance — would be attempting to thwart the doughnut shop’s business.

They said due to one neighbor’s complaints, the business was facing “mounting pressure” to shut down its late night doughnut (and fritter) sales — which owners say are the “cornerstone of the business.”

Also circulating was an online petition, signed by almost 8,000 people. “Together, we can protect the legacy of Back Door Donuts and ensure that future generations can experience the joy and delight it brings,” the petition read. “Let’s rally behind this cherished landmark and show our united support.”

But on Tuesday, the select board expressed disappointment with the way in which business owners and community members elevated the gravity of the situation, and deemed local response as overreaction.

Select board member Tom Hallahan referred to the rumor that the select board would be “closing down” Back Door Donuts. 

“That was never stated,” he said, calling the business’s social media campaign “disheartening” and “disappointing to see.”

Similarly, board members took issue with the bakery’s claim that a sole person was responsible for the meeting’s agenda item. 

“We’re not here today because of the words or actions of any one individual,” select board chair Emma Green-Beach said, noting that the town had already planned on reassessing the business’s operations after promises were made to find ways to decrease the lengthy queues that build up in the parking lot by the shop’s back door. 

Select board member Dion Alley warned of the dangers of making personal attacks on community members who have vocalized an issue they’re experiencing. 

“We can have discourse, but we can have dignity,” he said. “Everyone has the right to their opinions.” 

Maybe those opinions are different, he said, “but that’s part of democracy, and that’s part of living in the town of Oak Bluffs.”

“I don’t want anyone to ever feel that because of this incident, they can’t speak,” he said. “You can speak up … I just want to make sure that’s clear.”

Last week’s urgent efforts by the business’ owners to “Save Back Door Donuts” were a result of misunderstanding, the bakery’s attorney, Thomas Lesser, explained to the board. 

What caused the miscommunication remains unclear.

In regard to noise, Lesser noted that the town does have a noise ordinance, and that there’s “never been a documented noise complaint involving Back Door Donuts.” 

“The noise levels are significantly lower than what they were before,” he said, attributing the improvement partly to successful online sales.

In June, roughly 22 percent of the shop’s sales came from online orders, Lesser said, but there’s still something nostalgic about the in-person process. While some may opt not to wait in line, there are many who do, he said. “They waited in line, their parents waited in line; it’s a generational thing, it’s been going on for years.”

Select board member Gail Barmakian said while she’s noticed shorter lines than in the past, it can still be more than 20 people. “It’s somewhat OK,” she said, adding that she’s also, on occasion, witnessed rowdy groups. She urged the business to stay in compliance with the agreed-upon line capacity of 28. If the queue exceeds the limit, patrons must move to the ‘“front” door.

In terms of a solution, “we’re looking for something that’s enforceable,” Green-Beach said. 

Ultimately the select board concluded its checkup with the business with recommendations to continue promoting online ordering. 

“It is our utmost priority to constantly evolve to best serve our incredible customers and neighbors,” a statement released by Back Door Donuts Wednesday states. “We sincerely appreciate the Select Board of Oak Bluffs for continuously working with us to help improve our operation every season at the back door. We take great pride in being a part of the Oak Bluffs community, and that our local representatives are committed to making sure businesses, residents, and visitors are heard.”

Bakery reps added that they’re “eternally grateful,” for the support shown from the community over the last week. 

 

 

13 COMMENTS

  1. How about the owners of Back Door Donuts apologising to the neighbor who lodged her complaints, now that they admitted their vitriolic campaign was the result of a “misunderstanding”?
    Shame on BDD for rallying that 8,000 strong mob against her, because they don’t want their $9 fritter sales affected.

    • This brouhaha was tone-deaf nonsense, and right up there with the arrogance, selfishness, and entitlement of Beach Road Weekend. “Love thy neighbor” is fine for the island… until and unless it interferes with the ability to make money or a late night wish to eat junk. There are those who think their sweetened memories trump the right of a neighbor to the peaceful, late night enjoyment of their home. Shame on BBD and every one of the 8000 oblivious petition signers.

      • Those poor people with such expensive real estate.
        They should move to a nice quiet place in the country.
        The Circus has always run late.
        Think about what it was like in 90s, the 1890s.
        Will you donate to support Free Tickets For Vets for BRW?

        • Albert– I spent 2 years and 4 months in the navy rather than being drafted ( I had a low lottery number) The navy gave me an intense crash course in electricity, then put me on a ship with a cushy job, where we toured the Caribbean , the Mediterranean, and northern Europe.
          I , like most of my friends were stoned or high on psychedelic drugs nearly every day and every night . I made a small fortune providing those drugs to my fellow shipmates. After 2 years and 3 months of putting up with me, the navy offered to let me out early on an authorized program with an honorable discharge because I fit their definition of a “misfit” or a “malcontent”.
          I had no disciplinary record.
          After discharge, I milked the Gi bill, for about 8 years of part time college education, took advantage of the mortgage rate they offered when I bought a house, , and put the most useful skill I learned in the navy to use for years – ( it wasn’t the electrical training).
          So, if you want, I will meet with you, and you can give me some money towards a BRW ticket. It would really be appreciated and I am sure you will feel great about you donation to an honorably discharged veteran.

          • Lol, Don. And we won’t mention that giving away freebies to make oneself look good is a smart business practice that quiets the critics– except those who see through the technique. Give-aways allow good feelings to follow a person who is, in fact, saying the heck with the neighbors and their sense of quiet enjoyment of their homes. People who make out financially from selling tons of $9 donuts or $9000 VIP weekend packages are morally obligated to “give back” to communituies they take so much from. Failure to recognize what is a smart business practice would be like making a hero out of a grocer who routinely charges customers with ripoff prices but donates quite loudly to arts programs or donates the out-dated “best used by” foods to food banks.
            Speaking of circuses, “there’s a sucker born every minute” is also meant for people who are so easily taken in by what’s really behind many “donations”. There are those who happen to know where the freebies are and they are able to bring them up whenever a business gets rightly criticized. But even circuses don’t run into the wee hours, disrupting neighborhoods. And really, no one actually needs a donut. The owners should be thanking their lucky stars the community and visitors have supported them this long. They absolutely need to apologize to the neighbors– all the neighbors. It’s like inviting your neighbors to your loud party– a sure fire way to be sure the cops aren’t called for noise disturbances. Apologize and give them some donuts!

  2. It’s truly sad that 22% of sales are online! How uncool is that! As for the neighbor, they have been complaining about any noise in the neighborhood for years. From early morning delivery and garbage trucks to the current day soccer moms and their kids buying donuts. I think you’d have to go back to the mid 1880’s to find a peaceful summer night in this neighborhood. Let it be.

  3. The fact is that the neighbor has told Back Door Donuts staff that she will not stop complaining until Back Door Donuts is shut down. It is the neighbor who has been waging a vitriolic campaign against Back Door Donuts. And if she were to succeed in that, then which business or activity would be next? Because as everyone knows, OB is where vibrant nightlife happens, and the noise in OB at night is not just from people lined up for Back Door Donuts. When the neighbor starts playing nice in the sandbox, then Back Door Donuts can as well.

  4. The board said that they were NOT there because of any one persons complaint but it was already on the agenda to reassess the business’s operations. Why is everyone being so nasty to the neighboring woman? If the business is not in compliance with the rules and regulations that they promised to abide by in order to get their business to stay open at night then it’s on the business and not the neighbor. Even the owner said in their statement to the paper that there has never been a documented noise complaint against them. There wasn’t this time either. I don’t know this woman and don’t have a horse in this race. This is a owner created fiasco and the owners need to apologize to the neighbor and to the board!

    • Why, Diane? Because islanders are nasty when they fear losing something they want, like late night donuts. It’s called “victim blaming”. Islanders care about others only if they’re sure they have nothing to lose. I realized there was a Vineyard “love thy neighbor but only under certain circumstances” decades ago. That’s an over generalization, but it’s mostly true. These comments are at least honest about their self-concern and lack of compassion.

  5. “Why does it taste like old Crisco?” – the lone summer person I escorted to BDD.

    I sympathize with the neighbor(s). “Cherished landmark” feels a little over the top to me.

  6. These Boston investors have no ties to the community. All they did was greatly increase the price of donuts. And they’re getting around how many people can wait in line by having more people take orders and money than there are people bring out the orders. People visiting us paid and then had to wait a half hour for their donuts as captive audience because they’ve already paid. Everyone has a right to run a business and make money, however they should not present themselves as these victims, especially when they are Circumventing the process by having people pay to keep the line down then have to wait a long time in a corral.

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