Daily Dozen Doughnut Company
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Food service |
| Founded | 1978 |
| Founder | Two sisters |
| Headquarters | Seattle , United States |
Key people | Barbara Elza (owner since c. 1989) |
| Products | Doughnuts |
Daily Dozen Doughnut Company is a doughnut vendor situated within Seattle's Pike Place Market, Washington. Established in 1978 by a pair of sisters, the enterprise has been under the management of Barbara Elza since approximately 1989. Located in the Economy Market section, the stall is renowned for its warm, freshly prepared bite-sized doughnuts served in paper bags. Daily Dozen has garnered favorable acclaim and is regularly recognized as one of Seattle’s premier doughnut providers.
Description
Operating from a stall inside the Economy Market building at Pike Place Market in Seattle’s Central Waterfront area, Daily Dozen offers small-sized doughnuts. The menu features options such as plain, cinnamon, sugar-coated, maple bacon, chocolate with sprinkles, alongside rotating seasonal varieties. These doughnuts are typically served warm and are bite-sized holes. The company’s tagline encourages customers to "Be a winner, have doughnuts for dinner."
Production employs an automated Belshaw Brothers Mark II machine—referred to as the "Donut Robot"—which was originally developed in the 1930s. This equipment creates doughnuts in sets of four by depositing batter into hot oil and flipping them to achieve a golden finish before placing them on cooling racks. Employees complete the process by coating the doughnuts with toppings on-site, often adding flair by shaking them inside paper bags. The business exclusively accepts cash payments.
History
Daily Dozen was originally founded by two sisters in 1978 and came under Barbara Elza’s ownership around 1989. Prior to her tenure, Todd Collins was the proprietor. By 1997, the shop was utilizing 35 pounds of flour daily and reached sales of approximately 40,000 doughnuts per day by 2007; this figure adjusted to an average of 20,000 daily doughnuts by 2016.
In 2006, Seattle Weekly awarded Daily Dozen the title of "best place to pack on the pounds at a moment's notice," highlighting its affordable bite-sized treats. Between 2006 and 2021, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer featured the shop multiple times as one of Seattle’s top doughnut destinations. It secured first place on KSTW’s 2018 ranking of Seattle’s five best doughnut establishments and was included in a 2022 roundup by Seattle Metropolitan.
During Pride Month in June 2009, Elza displayed a rainbow flag at the stall, which led to a conflict with both the landlord and Pike Place Market officials. Following public backing, she was granted permission to exhibit the flag annually and eventually maintained it year-round, reinforcing the company’s commitment to community values.
In April 2012, Daily Dozen aimed to expand into neighboring space to broaden its offerings with quick breads, potpies, cider, and coffee. By mid-2012, more than half of its clientele consisted of local residents rather than tourists. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the business obtained Paycheck Protection Program assistance to sustain seven employees. To commemorate Pike Place Market’s 115th anniversary in 2022, Daily Dozen distributed complimentary doughnuts as part of community celebrations.
The company has inspired other entrepreneurs, such as those behind Beavers Coffee + Donuts—a Chicago-based food truck employing a similar "doughnut robot" machine. Ed Levine from Serious Eats remarked that Daily Dozen’s mini doughnuts are freshly produced through this automated method, which contributes significantly to their unique appeal.
See also
Bibliography
External links
- Daily Dozen Doughnut Company featured at Pike Place Market
- Doughnuts + Punks = Love, The Stranger, published February 7, 2008
- Daily Dozen Donut Company listed on Zomato