Doughnut company considers Columbia

Columbia residents may soon see the signature green tile roof and flashing red “hot” light of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts in town.

About a month ago, architects met with city staff to discuss the possibility of building a Krispy Kreme in the new Broadway Shoppes development, said senior planner Chuck Bondra.

Doug Allison, an architect with Wilson Darnell Mann in Wichita, Kan., said he investigated the site and presented the city with a preliminary construction plan. He said the doughnut manufacturer is trying to sort through the information and will probably make a final decision in the next month. Alison is not sure when the store would open if the plans are passed.

“I would think they would try and coordinate with the Broadway expansion work there,” Allison said.

Jim Heath, who is working on the expansion project with JL Heath Masonry, said he heard from a source close to the development that Krispy Kreme will come to Columbia.

“Rumor is they’re going to,” Heath said.

There are seven Krispy Kreme locations in Missouri, with the closest more than 80 miles away in O’Fallon. According to the company’s Web site, new stores will open in Virginia, California, Florida and Louisiana in 2005.

The company may be keeping development plans quiet because of financial difficulties. Accounting troubles and weak sales have resulted in an ousted CEO and a stock that has fallen 76 percent in the last year.

Krispy Kreme Communication Director Amy Hughes would not confirm the possibility of bringing glazed goodies to Columbians.

“The ink is not permanent on anything,” Hughes said.