Voodoo Doughnut
The exterior of Voodoo Doughnut's flagship location in Old Town Chinatown Portland, Oregon
Restaurant information
EstablishedMay 2003 (May 2003)[1]
Owner(s)Richard "Tres" Shannon III
Kenneth "Cat Daddy" Pogson[2][3]
Food typeDoughnuts
Dress codeCasual
Street address22 Southwest 3rd Avenue
CityPortland
StateOregon
Country United States
Coordinates45°31′22″N 122°40′23″W / 45.5227°N 122.6731°W / 45.5227; -122.6731
Other information"The Magic is in the Hole"
Websitewww.voodoodoughnut.com

Voodoo Doughnut is an American doughnut company based in the Old Town Chinatown neighborhood of Portland, Oregon with locations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Oregon, Washington, Tennessee and Texas. Its shops are known for their unusual doughnuts, decor that has been compared to "Goth Barbie’s living room," and pink boxes featuring the company logo and an illustration of a voodoo priest.[4][5] They were also listed as one of the world's biggest tourist traps in a 2023 USA Today poll.[6]

History

The former exterior of the flagship location in Portland

Voodoo Doughnut was founded in May 2003[7] by Kenneth “Cat Daddy” Pogson and Richard "Tres" Shannon III. The company's logo features a version of Baron Samedi, Voodoo Loa of the dead.[8] During the business's first few years, it was only open at night.[7]

It started as a one shop location in the Old Town Chinatown neighorhood of Portland primarily frequented by people leaving bars after having drinks to a being multi-state chain by 2024 with stores in California, Colorado, Illinois, Florida, Washington and Texas in addition to multiple locations within Oregon.[1]

The original location closed between April and June 2011 for remodeling after the company acquired space next door that was formerly occupied by a nightclub called Berbati's Pan. Much of the expansion involved creating additional room for the kitchen.[9]

In August 2011, Voodoo Doughnut's staff constructed an enlarged version of its box for the Portland Bridge Festival that contained 3,880 doughnuts.[10] The box was filled with smaller boxes and topped off with individual doughnuts until it reached 666 lbs, a number which, as Shannon explained, was chosen to go along with the company's voodoo theme.[11] According to NBC News, it was the biggest box of doughnuts in the world.[12]

Also in 2011, Voodoo Doughnut began partnering with Rogue Ales to convert several of its doughnut flavors into bottled beer. These have included: Bacon Maple Ale and Chocolate, Peanut Butter, and Banana Ale.[13] The latter was taken from its Memphis Mafia doughnut, which serves a tribute to Elvis Presley. That same year, the Los Angeles Times declared Voodoo Doughnut an international tourist attraction.[14]

In April 2017, a man choked to death while attempting to consume a half-pound doughnut within 80 seconds at the Colfax Avenue location in Denver. The eating contest was a long-running tradition at other locations as well. According to the contest's rules, anyone capable of eating the entire cake-sized treat would receive a commemorative pin and not have to pay for the doughnut.[15] The tradition has been suspended since this incident.[16][17][18]

During a historic heatwave in June 2021, several workers at the same location staged a walkout after arguing that working conditions were unsafe. Employees reported temperatures as high as 96 degrees Fahrenheit within the shop and one claimed that he felt close to passing out from the heat. A total of three employees were later fired for the incident.[19]

Plans to open a location in the French Quarter of New Orleans faced resistance from voodoo practitioners and historic preservationists in the summer of 2023.[20] They criticized the company's name and iconography and declared them ethnically and religiously insensitive. Co-founder Tres Shannon was reached for comment but was on a cycling tour of El Salvador at the time.[21]

Unionization

In 2020, workers at the downtown Portland location began an effort to unionize and formed an organization called the Doughnut Workers United.[22][23] Requests for increased security was one of the things sought by the union following an incident involving a man armed with a hatchet in March 2020.[24] Their efforts to officially unionize and have the organization recognized by the company's management failed after a tie vote in June 2021, but organizers vowed to try again.[25][26] Employees at the store filed for a new election with the National Labor Relations Board in August 2022. At the time, they were seeking improved wages, better and more consistent scheduling, and increased safety standards in the wake of robberies and attacks on employees at the location.[27] In October 2022, a second vote passed 16–6. The workers are now affiliated with Doughnut Workers United, part of the IWW.[28]

Doughnuts

Bacon-Maple bar
Pink Voodoo Doughnut box
In addition to the Portland Cream doughnut, a variation of the Boston Cream doughnut), Voodoo Doughnut also makes a Cock and Balls doughnut that has cream filled "balls"[29]

Voodoo Doughnut offers over 100 varieties.[9] Two of their doughnuts, the NyQuil Glazed doughnut and the Vanilla Pepto Crushed Tums doughnut, are no longer available due to an order from local health officials. According to one of the company's co-owners, "The NyQuil one was kind of a lark, but that's the one that got the most famous. With the Pepto doughnut, I honestly thought if you had that shot of tequila you shouldn't have at 2:00 a.m., and then you got sugar, bread, Pepto, and Tums, you'd either feel better or puke your ass off and then feel better because you got it out of your system. So it was a win-win either way."[30]

On December 24, 2008, Voodoo Doughnut's Portland Creme doughnut was designated Portland's "Official City Doughnut" by a resolution introduced by Portland Mayor Tom Potter and passed by city commissioners the same night.[8] The resolution also expressed Portlanders' "deepest gratitude to Voodoo Doughnut management for its dedication in the face of these stringent economic times in providing employment opportunities... and above all, creating and naming a doughnut after our beloved city that leaves a lasting taste and fond memories on its customers near and far away."[31] Later, Mayor Potter and mayoral candidate Sam Adams attended a midnight doughnut-eating contest.[14]

Operations

As of January 2023, the company has sixteen locations with an additional two in development.[32][33] The first opened in 2003[14] at 22 Southwest 3rd Avenue[34] in the Old Town Chinatown neighborhood of Portland. To celebrate their fifth anniversary, Voodoo Doughnut opened a second branch at 1501 Northeast Davis Street named Voodoo Doughnut Too in the Kerns neighborhood.[3] The operation began with a "soft opening" on May 30, 2008, with limited hours. The official opening was in June 2008 and featured a parade that traveled from the original location to the new one.[35][36] A location in Taipei also launched in 2015 but is no longer in business.[37] In January 2022, a location in Vancouver, Washington was opened.[38]

Wedding services

Voodoo Doughnut offers legal wedding services followed by doughnuts and coffee.[39] In an effort to "ritualize" the name “Voodoo,” both Pogson and Shannon became ordained ministers of the Universal Life Church, and subsequently performed both real and fake wedding ceremonies in their shops.[8]

Television

The "Captain My Captain" doughnut, featuring vanilla frosting and Cap'n Crunch cereal

Voodoo Doughnut has been featured on television series including: No Reservations,[40] Man v. Food, and Doughnut Paradise.[41] Jay Leno included a joke about Voodoo Doughnut during a 2004 Tonight Show opening monologue and said: "Did you hear about the doughnut shop in Portland, Oregon, that has caffeinated doughnuts? Yeah, I guess you can stay awake during your bypass surgery."[42]

Voodoo Doughnut Recordings

In 2013, Voodoo Doughnut founders, Cat Daddy and Tres, started a record label named Voodoo Doughnut Recordings with the intent of establishing a catalog of doughnut-related music to help promote the company's brand.[43][44] Early novelty acts included The Deep Fried Boogie Band and The Doughnut Boys.[45] The label expanded to other artists such as Poison Idea,[43] The Dandy Warhols,[46] Dead Moon,[47] Smegma,[47] Jerry Joseph,[48] Devin Millar,[49] and Hazel.[50] The label also releases recordings of comedians such as Ian Karmel.[47]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Acker, Lizzy (May 26, 2023). "Portland classic Voodoo Doughnut turns 20 years old". The Oregonian. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  2. ↑ About Voodoo Doughnut Archived November 20, 2008, at the Wayback Machine from the company's website
  3. 1 2 Voodoo Child: A peek at Voodoo Doughnut Too Archived 2008-10-07 at the Wayback Machine from Willamette Week
  4. ↑ "25 Iconic Portland Dishes and Drinks". Eater. January 29, 2015.
  5. ↑ "America's quirkiest city: What it's like to visit cool, alternative Portland, Oregon". Metro. May 30, 2022.
  6. ↑ "This Portland spot is one of the biggest tourist traps in the world, totally unscientific review says". The Oregonian. August 30, 2023.
  7. 1 2 "Doughnut Shop: Voodoo Doughnut". The Believer. August 1, 2006. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  8. 1 2 3 "Voodoo Doughnut". The Oregon Encyclopedia. Portland State University and the Oregon Historical Society. March 17, 2018. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
  9. 1 2 Voodoo Doughnut to Close Downtown Store for Renovation, Expansion The Oregonian.
  10. ↑ Beaven, Steve (August 12, 2011). "That gigantic pink box of Voodoo Doughnuts may just set a world record". The Oregonian. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  11. ↑ "World's largest box of doughnuts weighs in at 666 pounds". Today. August 10, 2011. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  12. ↑ Popken, Ben (June 3, 2016). "The Sorta Secret History of National Donut Day". NBC News. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  13. ↑ Goldfarb, Aaron (August 28, 2019). "How Rogue Voodoo Doughnut Ale Went From Troll Beer to Sensation". Inside Hook. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
  14. 1 2 3 Sewell, Abby (February 20, 2011). "Voodoo Doughnuts: In Portland, Ore., nothing says commitment like a Voodoo Doughnut". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 3, 2011. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
  15. ↑ "Voodoo Doughnuts suspends eating challenge after man dies". KATU. Associated Press. April 4, 2017. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  16. ↑ Fernández, Alexia (April 4, 2017). "Colorado Man Dies Choking on a Doughnut in Bakery Eating Challenge". People. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  17. ↑ Sylte, Allison; Biassou, Krystyna (April 3, 2017). "Man who choked to death at Voodoo Doughnut identified". KUSA. Retrieved April 23, 2021. The manager at the shop confirmed to 9NEWS a person died in their lobby, but wouldn't say anything else.
  18. ↑ Coffman, Keith (April 4, 2017). "Denver choking death reported linked to doughnut-eating contest". Reuters. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
  19. ↑ Tabrizian, Ardeshir (July 2, 2021). "Voodoo Doughnut fires employees who walked out during heat wave, workers say". The Oregonian. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  20. ↑ "Voodoo Doughnut Is Facing Religious Pushback in New Orleans". Willamette Week. July 28, 2023.
  21. ↑ "Voodoo-Practicioners and Preservationists Riled by Plans for Voodoo Doughnut Store in French Quarter". New Orleans Times Picayune. July 27, 2023.
  22. ↑ McIntosh, Don (March 20, 2020). "At Portland icon Voodoo Doughnuts, workers announce they've formed a union". Northwest Labor Press. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
  23. ↑ Burley, Shane (May 1, 2020). "Coronavirus fight: Some US worker unions become more aggressive". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  24. ↑ Acker, Lizzy (March 8, 2020). "Man with a hatchet robs Voodoo Doughnut, police say suspect found eating a doughnut". oregonlive. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  25. ↑ Tabrizian, Ardeshir (June 29, 2021). "Old Town Voodoo Doughnut staff walk out amid record heat". oregonlive. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  26. ↑ Peel, Sophie (June 28, 2021). "Voodoo Doughnut Workers Go on Strike, Claiming Sweaty Shop Conditions". Willamette Week. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  27. ↑ Jackson-Glidden, Brooke (August 3, 2022). "Voodoo Doughnut Workers File for a Second Union Election". Eater. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  28. ↑ Staub, Colin (October 7, 2022). "Voodoo Doughnut workers unionize in second attempt". Northwest Labor Press. Archived from the original on October 7, 2022. Retrieved November 10, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  29. ↑ Walker, Tim (May 17, 2016). "This Portland doughnut shop is #FeelingTheBern". Retrieved June 29, 2016.
  30. ↑ Voodoo Doughnut from the August 2006 issue of The Believer
  31. ↑ "Portland sprinkles award on official city doughnut". Oregon Local News. May 17, 2016. Archived from the original on December 25, 2008. Retrieved December 24, 2008.
  32. ↑ "Voodoo Doughnut | Locations | Find your closest real life shop!". Voodoo Doughnut. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  33. ↑ "Voodoo Doughnuts Opens New Location On McLoughlin Blvd in Milwaukie Today". KXL. September 7, 2020. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  34. ↑ Tres Shannon (Voodoo Founder) (August 2011). "Hoods". Finder. Willamette Week. p. 54. Archived from the original on November 20, 2011. Retrieved January 30, 2012. ... Voodoo Doughnut, ...(22 Southwest 3rd Ave., 241-4704, voodoodoughnut.com). ... But I love that there's still a porn theater where the Paris Theatre was (New Paris Theatre, 6 Northwest 3rd Ave., 295-7808). They're great neighbors.
  35. ↑ "Voodoo Doughnuts To Open New Shop". Portland Mercury. May 21, 2008. Archived from the original on May 25, 2008. Retrieved June 3, 2008.
  36. ↑ "In the Mix, FOODday". The Oregonian. June 3, 2008. Retrieved June 3, 2008.
  37. ↑ Williams, Todd Allen (July 7, 2015). "Taipei Is Finally Weird Enough for Its Own Voodoo Doughnut". Vice. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  38. ↑ Pinsky, Rachel (January 11, 2022). "Voodoo Doughnut opens its newest shop in Vancouver". Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  39. ↑ from the company's website
  40. ↑ Anthony Bourdain Visits the Pacific Northwest from the Travel Channel website
  41. ↑ Donut Paradise: The Ultimate Deep-Fried Treat from the Travel Channel website,
  42. ↑ Nicholas, Jonathan (January 5, 2004). "DEPT. OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS". The Oregonian. pp. D01.
  43. 1 2 "Interview: Tres Shannon, co-owner of Voodoo Doughnut". Colorado Public Radio. Archived from the original on April 28, 2019. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
  44. ↑ "Voodoo Doughnut Recordings". Vortex Music Magazine. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
  45. ↑ "7 things to know about Voodoo Doughnut's record label". oregonlive.com. January 3, 2014. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
  46. ↑ "The Dandy Warhols Set to Drop Two Records This April Including 'Nothin' To Do' Live at The X-Ray Cafe [Song Premiere]". Vortex Music Magazine. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
  47. 1 2 3 "Locals Only: Tres Shannon (Voodoo Doughnut)". modern-vinyl.com. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
  48. ↑ "Jerry Joseph, Voodoo Doughnut Recordings, & Lower Boom : The Confluence". April 11, 2016. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
  49. ↑ Delinquents - Voodoo Doughnut Recordings Retrieved October 20, 2022
  50. ↑ "Dead Moon live album to offer a first peek at Voodoo's unearthed rock archive". oregonlive.com. December 30, 2014. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
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