Who Remembers…Mister Donut?!

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Mister Donut was started in 1955 by Harry Winouker

Here is another installment in our Who Remembers? series. You can browse previous articles by using the search bar on the right or by clicking here. These articles are strolls down memory lane. In some cases the buildings, but new businesses have replaced them. In other instances, the buildings or even the properties have been razed. Instead of a building, it may be a TV show, personality, or commercial that no one longer exists. Either way, it can’t stop us from taking the Memory Lane stroll!

As always we would rather this be a discussion. No one knows this area better than those who grew up here! Please, leave constructive criticism, feedback, and corrections. We’d love to hear your anecdotes. Please share!


Miss those cheesy mugs!!

Mister Donut is one of those “Who Remembers…?” that is on the fringe of my memories. It’s at the outer limits and extreme range for this 43 year old. I have vague memories of Mister Donut. I don’t recall the addresses, the exterior or the interior. I do remember the important part though: I would order a small “regular” of deliciousness. I distinctly remember that cheesy logo and either white or brown cup – a horrible color that Mister Donut adopted before a certain mail delivery company did. I wouldn’t have it any other color!

When digging up information on Mister Donut, I began with the misconception that it was an utterly defunct business. One of those places that we have fond memories of and that’s it. Nothing physical exists. However, I came to find out that Mister Donut is a modern and incredibly popular coffee chain – just not in our neck of the woods. In fact, Mister Donut has over 10,000 shops and can be found all over the world and is Japan’s most popular coffee chain and pronounced Misutā Dōnatsu. Japan is also where corporate headquarters are. Their Facebook page has 102,000 fans. Go figure.

If you are in Europe, Canada, Asia, even Africa and want a Mister Donut, you can get it. They are a modern chain with a far more expansive menu than they had “back in the day.” New items, more varieties, more more. Blasphemously offering salad, rice, and other healthy fare.

Classic retro sign of Mister Donut

But I’m not having any of that. I’m not going there. These memories are hallowed ground. Watch where you tread modern progress! Leave Britt…er…Mister Donut alone!

Brothers-in -law, Harry Winouker and Bill Rosenberg started a donut shop in 1955. Rosenberg went on to found Dunkin’ Donuts and Winouker went on to found Mister Donut. Ironically, in 1990 Dunkin’ Donuts would purchase the Mister Donut chain and offer all of them the option to change their name to Dunkin’ Donuts.

If you are craving a Mister Donut experience (albeit a modernized version) I believe that the closest Mister Donut is at 64 Rhode Island Ave in Fall River.

Do you recall the locations of the Mister Donuts in the greater New Bedford area? Please share!


About Joe Silvia

When Joe isn't writing, he's coaching people to punch each other in the face. He enjoys ancient cultures, dead and living languages, cooking, benching 999#s, and saving the elderly, babies and puppies from burning buildings. While he enjoys long walks on the beach, he will not be your alarm clock, because he's no ding-a-ling.

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11 comments

  1. There was a Mister Donut on Acushnet ave across from CVS near Branscomb st.

  2. Karin Kingsland

    There was one on rte 6 in Fairhaven. I think where the Midas Muffler is now

  3. On the Ave., stopping in for a cup of coffee at 2AM after typing up town meeting stories for the S-T…you saw all types in there!

  4. Was that at the bottom of Rockdale Ave near the Cove? I think the first DD was there.

  5. Scott Pemberton

    There were 3, that I remember of, one in Fairhaven Rte 6, Two in New Bedford on Acushnet Ave across from CVS and that is now a Dunkin Donuts and the other at the corner of Union St and sixth st also a Dunkin Donuts

  6. Wanna go back further? Who remembers Lorraine’s coffee on acushnet ave, almost to coggshall st?

  7. I grew up in Hanover (Ma.) and that’s where I first experienced Mr. Donut. As a kid, every Sunday after Mass it seemed like every Catholic in Hanover would go to Mr. Donut’s for the required weekly fix. We would always get 1 1/2 dozen donuts and they might last until Monday (there were 5 of us). My father always made out the best, because my mother would never eat them the next day, but my father would eat them if they were rock solid- that’s what the coffee was for, right? Loved their doughnuts as a kid, especially the lemon filled. Haven’t had a good lemon doughnut since!

  8. I believe there was one in the plaza between Mt. Pleasent st. and Nausett st.
    Directly in front of train tracks that cross Mt Pleasent. Also became a DD.

  9. I worked nights at the one on Rt6 in Fhvn with Anne. Our boss was Leo and his wife Joyce. This was 1977/-79.

  10. The former Dunkin on the corner of Faunce Corner and Rt 6 (now Dartmouth Roast Beef) started out as a Mister Donut.

  11. I worked nights at the Ashley blvd location 79-80. Can’t remember owners name, but he had a vintage car. I lived on Bailey Ave, but I can’t even find that on the map. I LOVED the cheese roll!

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