Greasy. Fattening. Fried. Addictive.
These are some of the words that come to mind when describing doughnuts—and many of the reasons why we love them so much. Unfortunately, these are also the very reasons we’re forced to limit our intake and prioritize our health. But, what if someone found a way to get all the taste and cut the fat?
New business owner Rebecca Romero has introduced a solution to Great Neck doughnut lovers: Foughnuts. They’re shaped like and taste similar to regular doughnuts, but they’re baked—not fried. This immediately cuts out trans fats, which are harmful to your arteries and heart. While the baked treats still contain sugars and carbohydrates, they remain a healthier option than fried doughnuts.
Romero came up with this business plan while she was still living in Los Angeles, CA. There, she said, bakeries are all the craze; each baker is looking to bring something new to the market. She noticed, however, that Great Neck didn’t have a bakery similar to those she saw on the West Coast. Subsequently, she moved across the country to take advantage of the untapped market and introduce her unique business idea to Nassau County.
Although the move took Romero nearly 3,000 miles away from her home, she’s very content with the welcome she has received here. She said that the people in Great Neck are extremely kind and appreciative of having a new store in town, especially one that’s kosher and serves gluten-free and peanut-free options.
Located on 8 Bond St., the shop not only sells foughnuts, cookies and coffee, but also caters, bakes for large parties, prepares party favors and participates in booth sales. In fact, the eatery was recently asked to set up a booth at a fair in Smithtown this summer. It will also participate with UberEats, the online meal ordering app and website, which goes live in Nassau County on Wednesday, May 3. This means that customers living within 15 to 20 minutes of the shop can have food delivered to their door.
Only three weeks after opening, Romero is shocked at the store’s immediate success. Three days after opening, she made the executive decision to close the store due to an underestimated demand. The quantity of foughnuts made each day has since been raised. Romero is still testing the market, but has narrowed down the store’s peak hours to the early morning, late morning, after lunch, after school and before or after dinner. The most popular products are the cookies and cream-flavored foughnuts.
The store is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sundays.
Although the business is fairly new, Romero is looking forward to expanding in the future. For now, however, she’s more than happy with her cozy bakery in the heart of Great Neck.
