« "Spit Out That Cookie Monster!!" | Main | On Thanksgiving We Tried To Visit Florida Cracker... »

November 27, 2006

You Can't Sugar Coat THIS, Baby

Krispy Kreme store closing for 4 months
Landmark doughnut shop gets new digs, will give away free doughnuts on Sunday
That would be our iconic, 40 year old Krispy Kreme donut shop ~ it of the swooping roofline and "HOT" sign. Supposedly it'll open again but, like Tony Bourdain says, 'closed for remodeling/vacation' is often a death notice. At the very least, critical condition/ICU.
And like the friendly neighborhood watering hole types they are, Krispy Kreme is treating it's long time Pensacola employees with all the love and respect the corporate offices can muster.
...All current managers will stay on the payroll, said Smith, but production workers and wait staff -- many with 20 to 30 years' experience -- will be required to go through a rehiring process to retain their old jobs.

Smith said laid-off employees will be given severance pay and are eligible for unemployment, and those rehired will retain their seniority.

But some employees are skeptical about the rehiring process.

"When Krispy Kreme came down here to meet with us, I thought they'd have a (human resources) person with them. But they didn't," said Roderick West, a 13-year production employee at the shop. "They just told us we could go to work at the Krispy Kreme in Destin, but you'd have to commute, and that doesn't make sense."

West, who works part time at a local furniture store, said he wasn't sure he wants to return to Krispy Kreme.

"You've got people that have been there 33 years, and all they're getting is two weeks' severance. I just don't think it's right the way they're doing it," he said.


Me neither. I think Krispy Kremes may be a hard sell here after this.

I hope so.


Posted by tree hugging sister at November 27, 2006 11:17 AM

Comments

See? Krispy Kreme is the devil.

Dunkin Donuts would never treat their employees like this, I'm sure.

Posted by: Lisa at November 27, 2006 12:16 PM

Maybe Dunkin will move in to the building? You can have the one from my grocery store.

Posted by: John at November 27, 2006 01:28 PM

It is kind of easy to pick on people whose only ambition in life has been to work at low wages serving donuts for three decades.

Posted by: Mike Rentner at November 27, 2006 01:34 PM

Gotta remember Mike median income in this backwater is about 24K and if you're under 25 about 18K. The donut servers thought they had job security if not any ambition. You're right they are easy to pick on.

Posted by: major dad at November 27, 2006 02:42 PM

(Ambition, schmition ~ not everyone has the means and/or the IQ for rocket science and SOMEone's got to make donuts, right?)

Posted by: tree hugging sister at November 27, 2006 02:54 PM

THS, it looks just like the one here in Albany. I had to look at your picture closely to make sure they were not the same. So, if you want to eat some lovely deep fried donuts in a vintage establishment, you can always come for a visit.

Posted by: WunderKraut at November 27, 2006 03:06 PM

Oh Kraut, cherish it while you can! I think the dark forces of donut destruction are gathering...

Posted by: tree hugging sister at November 27, 2006 03:16 PM

I almost picked up some KK donuts the other day. I am more tempted now.

Posted by: Cullen at November 27, 2006 03:39 PM

No matter what happens, THS, these will always be available. So you can still have your daily Fat Pills™, even after the inevitable demise of Krispy Kreme and Dunkin' Donuts.

Posted by: The_Real_JeffS at November 27, 2006 03:40 PM

Dunkin and Hostess before KK any day!!!

Posted by: Mike Rentner at November 27, 2006 05:46 PM