ROSELAND, Ill. — For nearly six decades, customers have been lining up for glazed goodies at Roseland’s treasured donut shop Old Fashioned Donuts.
And the man behind it all is Burrit Bulloch. A Roseland real life legend. In the neighborhood, he’s known by one of two names: Mr. B. or “The Donut King.”
“There’s not too many homemade donuts around anymore,” he said. “Just makes a world of difference in the texture of the donut. … It tastes better.”
His morning ritual at the shop has been uninterrupted since he took a daring leap of faith in 1972 and opened the shop along the bustling Roseland corridor made up of mom and pop shops. Most are long gone now. Through inflation, the collapse of the steel and automotive industries, covid and the George Floyd protest riots, Old Fashioned Donuts has survived.
More information at https://www.facebook.com/oldfashioneddonuts/
“As long as the streets not closed, I’m going to continue to sell donuts, Bulloch said.
Long time customers relish over the familiar sight of Mr. B in that window, working his dough.
At 85, his shoulders aren’t as straight as they once were. Years of kneading and ladling glaze have left their mark. But ask him if he’s calling it quits, he’ll set you straight.
“I’m thinking another five years,” he said. “Think I’m good to 95.”
The place isn’t fancy, but that hasn’t stopped folks from lining up from open to close, six days a week.
And if you ask Mr. B., he’ll tell you, being the Donut King ain’t half bad.
“I feel like I’m doing something right. Something good. Something people love,” he said.
From the long lines to the smiles, life in the storefront window has been nothing, but sweet.
This year, Old Fashioned Donuts received the Backing Historic Small Restaurant Grant for $50,000. Mr. B says they plan to use it for renovations around September.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
