Winchell’s reopening delayed
Winchell’s Donut House in Longmont will reopen, just not this month as owner Joe Barmada had previously expected.
Now, Barmada hopes his business at 502 Main St. will start serving customers again in mid to late March, but made clear that could change if he runs into more snafus.
“The problem is financial and no (contract) workers,” Barmada said Wednesday.
Winchell’s Donut House has been closed since December 2021 after a vehicle crashed into it while attempting to park.
Although no one was seriously injured as a result of the incident, it did cause roughly $500,000 worth of damage. However, the cost of building materials has gone up exponentially since then, which has caused issues with insurance and subsequently contractors, according to Barmada.
“It’s just like drama and … confusing,” Barmada said. “It’s the worst time of the year.”
Before reopening, Barmada said the building’s plumbing needs to be redone and its electricity also needs to be upgraded.
“It’s like … rebuilding a new building, literally,” Barmada said.
A Boulder County Public Health spokesperson said last fall that the department reviewed Winchell’s plans and issued a conditional approval letter to proceed with construction in May.
In an email Wednesday, a spokesperson with the department said there was no new information to provide concerning Winchell’s.
Barmada has already purchased new equipment for the shop and even grand opening signs and insisted that Winchell’s would in fact reopen. He and his family have owned the small donut business in Longmont since 1998.