Few old saws apply to the restaurant scene better than “When one door closes, another one opens.”
Sometimes it’s even the same door.
TIME TO MAKE MORE DOUGHNUTSOn Nov. 4, Big D’s Donuts & Bagels started filling a hole in the local doughnut market. On Nov. 5, Election Day, there was a line out its door longer than those at the polls.
Baker/entrepreneur Cara Ewald had just announced closing her wildly popular LuLu’s Donuts on Punta Gorda’s flood-ravaged Wood Street.
Donut demand heated up.
The equally popular Delicious Pizza, Gelato, European Treats had recently posted a sad sign on its door: “Alex (Cherbak) would like to thank his customers and friends for their support of his business and friendships that he has built in Port Charlotte. Due to life changes, Alex has decided to relocate to be near family.”
David Coombe and Christy Sapey of North Port, regulars at Delicious, knew how painful it had been for Cherbak to continue after his wife, Galina‘s, death. So they arranged to take over his 2320 Tamiami Trail space and fill a local need for good coffee, doughnuts and bagels.