FROM DAWN TO DUSK - DONUTS!

"I prefer my oysters fried; That way I know my oysters died." - Roy Blount, Jr.

Sunrise Donuts Coffee Cafe
10081 W. 26 Ave - 303/238-4590

November 15, 2003

WHAT DO THE FOLLOWING PERSONS, Chris 29, Crandall 28, Michelle 25, Joleen 24, Jessica 21, Ryan 16, Deseray 14, Cody 12 and Sierra 8, all have in common? Well, they all either now work or have worked in the Sunrise Donuts shop in Idaho Springs (2731 Colorado, 303/567-4093). And they're the offspring of Cathleen and Dale Harnish, who own that very popular donutery in Idaho Springs. Who are the same folks who purchased the remnants of Wheat Ridge's equally popular but now defunct Henderson's Donuts on West 26th Avenue.

There's also Alex 9, Elijah 2, and 9-month old Dekland, who are the offspring of the offspring, ceptin Elijah is just a two-year old bum.

But donut lovers everywhere, unite! Or at least get your tastebuds back in order cuz sometime shortly after Thanksgiving, Henderson's will re-open, but as a donutery that will blow your mind. Yes, Sunrise Donuts Coffee Cafe is it. They'll serve the same donuts that have made their Idaho Springs store a must stop for everyone heading west from Denver.

Cathleen is the Donut Director. Dale doesn't really show up at the store 'ceptin when something's broke; he's one of them engineer types. A former museum curator by the name of Bill Thinnes will oversee the Wheat Ridge store. And of course lots of other family.

They've located and are restoring the original Henderson donut cases and the original counters. They're bringing in a cyclopean array of semi-ancient original percolators that general manager Bill has accumulated over his years at in the museum business. The decor is gonna be something else. But I ain't gonna give away all the surprises now. You gotta go and see 'em. I will tell you that this store will look like a 1920's coffee and donut shop. No folks, Krispy Kreme did invent the donut. Y'all know that I think KK donuts are "less than edible". Donuts (or doughnuts) have been around since the mid 1800's when Fred Fosdick Donut was making bagels in Corning, Iowa, and he ran out of flour so he bought some corn and wheat mix at the local barber shop, the Iowans got confused with the different taste, and the rest is history. Y'all know that present day donuts are a cross between money and cashews, right? Dough and Nuts? Come on!

Anywho, aside from all the maavelous fixtures that are in store for you, Sunrise will serve the city's finest coffee, courtesy of the Boyers Brothers folks who have set up the coffee system at the resurrected store. None of that foo-foo stuff you find in Suckbuck's, just coffee. But a variety of blends and flavors for your palate, either by cup or by the pound.

As they do in Idaho Springs, customers can bring their own coffee mugs and leave 'em on the wall rack. Then they use their own mugs each time they come in for a cup of java and save $. Course they're responsible for the cleaning (or non-cleaning) of their own cups. No cup-washer person on site.

Oh my gosh, they'll have ADA-approved toilet facilities! Two of 'em. One for boyses and one for girlses.

Okay, here's what you've been waiting for, The donuts.

There are all sorts of donutery delites with holes in the center. In standard donut store fashion, there will be devil's food donuts on the weekends. And every variety of donut you've ever seen. Raised and glazed and cake and long johns and you name it they got it.

Cinnamon rolls. Cathleen sez she makes the best in the world. We'll have to do a Paris Bakery vs. Sunrise Bakery comparison, and I'll be the judge of that deal. But there will also be their famed sticky buns. And cream puffs, scones (her sister flew over London once), pineapple upside down cake, sour cream coffeecakes, Danish pastries, turnovers, brownies, and more. Howsabout a broccoli and cheese scone with a hint of garlic? Oh, my. The British never thought of that one. But that's cuz it might taste good. Chocolate chip cookies 2-die-4. Made with Ghiardelli chocolate.

Then there are specialty items. Muh fav is the "Lisa" thingie: a raised, braided donut, glazed and dipped in Ghiardelli chocolate, filled with Bavarian cream and topped with a cherry. Oh, my. Not to be confused with the chocolate Bavarian cream donut which is of course the most sinful donut on Earth.

Muffins. All sorts of muffins. And probably any other kind of pastry you've ever heard of. If you don't see it in the case, ask for it. They may have some in the back room, and they may not have made any that day. There are so many yummy things. Some of the "specialty" items will be made periodically. The best sellers will be a daily item.

As to the logistics. The store will open every day at 5:30 am. They'll close most days at 6 pm, but will stay later on busy nites, and maybe in the summer when school kids need a place to hang out. They will take most credit cards.

Donuts will go for $.65 each, $6.00 a dozen for the regular stuff, and varying prices up to $2.00 each for the super fancy stuff. There will be fresh donuts all day long. As in all. The whole day. A cup of coffee will start at $.95 depending on type and size, but if you have your own mug it's $.47.

If it hasn't come thru so far, these folks are real. They care about their customers and they care about the folks in their neighborhood. They want to do things for the old folks and the kids that "hang out" at the store. This is the type of place you want your kids to hang out. It'll be fun. They may even have sody pop. About a zillion flavors that you've never heard of, but were popular in the 20's. But that's one of the secrets I wasn't gonna tellya about. As for the donuts, what makes them different? It's LOVE. The love and care that goes into each batch, They spend more time letting the yeast rise, as much as three and four times. Soes they're yummy. The very best ingredients like the Ghiardelli chocolate.

Cathleen tells me she's not sure if it's the family that keeps the business together, or the business that keeps the family together, but whatever it is, it works.

The past few weeks the folks at Gold's Market, a few doors away, have been selling the donuts, trucked down from the Idaho Springs store. The folks that run Gold's Market are the same types of customer-friendly, caring folks as the Harnish family. If you haven't been into this great neighborhood grocery, you've missed a fun experience. And the best produce in the city. Tell 'em The Fox sentcha,

Say. Anyone know what happened to the busted old screen door?

Cya.