EVERGREEN PARK —The "Hot Now" sign at Krispy Kreme Doughnuts was illuminated for the first time at 6 a.m. Tuesday in Evergreen Park.
The doughnut chain's continued return to the market included giving the first 100 customers in line a free dozen doughnuts every month for a year.
The next 200 customers in line at 9150 S. Western Ave. received a coffee tumbler that allows unlimited 99-cent refills of Krispy Kreme's coffee.
The opening day celebration officially begins begins at 7:30 a.m. with a performance from the Evergreen Park Community High School's marching band. A ribbon-cutting will be held at 8 a.m.
Krispy Kreme had a cult-like following when it first began expanding after going public in 2000. Stores opened quickly and often featured long lines of customers hungry for the warm doughnuts.
But the love affair quickly faded as markets became saturated and low-carb diets began trending. The chain's Illinois franchisee filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2007. The last south suburban store closed in Midlothian in 2012.
Krispy Kreme's comeback began Jan. 10 with the debut of its new store at 17815 S. Halsted St. in south suburban Homewood. In its first two weeks of business, this store produced 57,000 doughnuts a day, a spokeswoman said.
“I am thrilled to welcome Krispy Kreme Doughnuts to Evergreen Park,” Mayor Jim Sexton said.
The chain's latest doughnut shop will be open daily from 6 a.m.-10 p.m. The drive-thru will remain open until midnight. The shop will feature Krispy Kreme’s signature Original Glazed doughnuts and more than a dozen other types of doughnuts.
Krispy Kreme has two additional shops planned for 2017 in undisclosed locations. The chain aims to have eight Cook County locations by 2020.
“As we continue our growth in the Chicagoland market, we are excited to make the Evergreen Park community even sweeter,” said Carlos Larcada, president of Chicagoland Restaurants LLC, the latest store's franchisee.
