Boise Spotlight New Business: Duck Donuts

MERIDIAN, ID — Kimberlee Relyea Guin always knew she would return to the Treasure Valley after moving and setting up a career in the southern United States. Her family, long a fixture in the valley, remained here. After Kimberlee and her husband Todd raised a family, it was time to make pack up the belongings and sell their business.

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The Relyea name is known to many, but not in the food business. However, a fair time food favorite is what spurred the current business.

"My grandfather owned the first Pronto Pup franchise in Boise," said Guin. "He used the proceeds from the sale of those to finance his way through mortuary school. Once completed, he started Relyea Funeral Chapel."

Now back home, the Guins are slated to open a new food franchise, Duck Donuts. The grand opening will be held Saturday, April 24 starting at 8 a.m. at the newly finished location at 2126 N. Eagle Road, Suite 140 in the Village at Meridian.

"Our family has been in the area for generations," said Guin. "We could not wait to get back. We sold out event company in Arkansas in 2019 and saw this opportunity. It was just an amazing concept, all the doughnuts made to order and the fact a customer can customize a doughnut."

For a quick look at the experience coming, see this Youtube video.

The new store will offer a viewing area for customers to see thier donut order being made. From there, it is on to customizing the donut with toppings chosen by the customer.

In addition, Duck Donuts will offer coffee, tea, donut breakfast sandwiches, donut sundaes and donut milkshakes and other items.

"It is truly a unique conecept and we offer so many toppings," Guin explained. "This is great for both adults and children and so fun for the entire family."

Duck Donuts was founded in 2006 by Russ DiGilio in Duck, North Carolina. His intention? To solve a family vacation problem: “Our family wanted a place to buy warm, delicious, made-to-order donuts, and when we couldn’t find one, we decided to start our own.”

By 2011, Duck Donuts had expanded to four Outer Banks locations and the donut business was so successful that DiGilio was continuously approached about franchise opportunities by fans who begged for a Duck Donuts in their community. The first franchise opened in Williamsburg, Virginia, in 2013, and there are now 101 open franchise locations and more than 145 additional contracts in 27 states and four countries.

The new Meridian location will employ approximately 25 people and will be very involved in fundraising for schools and other organizations. Check out the new Duck Donuts Meridian Facebook page here or connect on the web here.

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