WICKER PARK — If you weren't lucky enough to snag a ticket to Wicker Park's first doughnut fest last Sunday, rest assured there's more sugary carbs headed to the 'hood with the opening of a new retro-style shop just south of the Milwaukee, Damen and North avenues intersection.
"Even if it's negative 20 degrees out we are opening," said baker Rich Labriola, owner of Stan's Donuts, which is bringing new life to the long-shuttered Skewerz restaurant space at 1560 N. Damen Ave, directly in front of the CTA No. 50 Damen bus stop and next to the Blue Line "L" station.
Labriola said he planned to open his shop, which has about 20 workers or "doughnut champions," on Wednesday. Hours will be from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday. Saturday and Sunday hours are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Labriola has been busy taste-testing doughnuts and finalizing contracts with suppliers as well as training staff.
The 1,300-square-foot cafe offers 22 celery-green stools for seating, with half facing the window in a counter-style arrangement and the other half at a community table.
Vintage white tiles with splashes of pink and green cover the floor and colorful Kitchen Aid mixers will be on display to add to the retro vibe.
Stan's Donuts will offer yeast-raised and cake doughnuts and is a partnership between 83-year-old Stan Berman, owner of Los Angeles based Stan's Donuts, and Labriola, who sold most of his stake in Labriola Baking Co. in June to focus on being a restaurateur.
Stan's Donuts will feature at least 15 regular doughnut flavors and five alternating specials daily.
The doughnuts will range in price between $1.75 and $3.75 each, Labriola said.
Though Labriola said previously that Stan's Donuts planned to serve coffee that will be its own brand and locally roasted, on Wednesday he said that he decided to serve Intelligentsia Coffee.
"Besides their reputation for quality coffee, they are really focusing on selling and training people at their coffee shops that are serious about handling the coffee the way it should be done," Labriola said.
Marc Pribaz, former owner of Istria cafe in Hyde Park, will serve as the cafe's day-to-day manager and oversee the coffee program while Labriola plans to oversee the making of the doughnuts during the shop's beginning.
Unlike La Colombe, which opened earlier this month at 1552 N. Damen Ave, and is on the other side of the CTA Damen "L" station, there will be Wi-Fi at Stan's, Labriola confirmed on Wednesday.
