The Colonial Do-Nut Shop in Taunton is open again, and all is well with the world

TAUNTON — By 7:28 a.m. on Monday, the reopened Colonial Do-nut Shop had sold all 50 dozen doughnuts co-owner Bob George and crew baked that morning.

The 91 Broadway landmark, which had been closed since Saturday, March 14, 2020, held a "soft opening" on Saturday and opened at its usual 4 a.m. time on Monday. 

"It's great to be back after a year and a half," said Joe Wade, 75, sitting elbow-to-elbow with friends.

The regular, who takes his coffee with cream and Equal, said he's been coming to Colonial since he was 5.

The Colonial is known as the place to go if you want to know what's happening in Taunton.

"It's better than the Gazette," said Melissa Corr, who was sipping her coffee to Wade's right. "It's like home."

Wade's friend, Don Sheerin, smiled on his way out after his coffee (just cream).

"It's a sense of normalcy for the city of Taunton," said Sheerin, who said he's been coming to the Colonial since he was learning his catechism across the street at the now-closed St. Mary's School.

Saturday was supposed to have been a somewhat quiet "soft opening," said Pam George, who helps her husband, Bob, run the place.

But for the Colonial, no opening had a chance to be soft. Word got around. Not long after 5:30 a.m., the line to get in stretched around the corner, with a wait of 45 minutes. By 8 a.m., all the doughnuts were gone.

"All we had left was two corn muffins and a bran muffin," Pam George said.

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The outpouring of affection means a lot to the current generation of Georges who operate the shop, which celebrated its 70th anniversary on May 17. Bob and his brother, Mike George, are co-owners and it was their father Fred George who co-founded Colonial back in 1951. 

"We can't thank the community enough," said Pam George, who does the books among other tasks.

The cash only spot is again keeping its usual 4 a.m.-to-noon schedule, every day except Sunday.

"I love this city," said Bob George, who marvels at the ongoing popularity of the spot. 

"It's a lousy cup of coffee and a doughnut," he said, shaking his head with wonder.

Send your news tips to reporter Chris Helms by email at CHelms@tauntongazette.com. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Taunton Daily Gazette.