Duck Donuts will open in Rehoboth Beach

Charles “Buff” and Julia Vaughan don’t yet know the exact opening date of their Duck Donuts in Rehoboth Beach, but they know people are excited for the arrival of the popular Outer Banks donut shop.

Every day people stop by to see when it’s going to be done, Buff said in a recent interview.

Married for 28 years, the Vaughans’ trip to Rehoboth Beach was unexpected. Both recently retired from the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, where Buff was responsible for opera props and Julia was a stagehand. While on a trip to Charlotte, North Carolina, the couple, familiar with the Duck Donuts brand as they once owned a home in the Outer Banks, noticed a franchise. They inquired about opening a store, and were given Rehoboth as an option. Although they don’t know the area at all, it was something they didn’t want to pass up.

It was a whirlwind, but it was an opportunity near the beach, Julia said, adding that the same day they found the commercial space in Rehoboth, they also found a home in Milton.

The secret to Duck Donuts is in the donut, and Julia was trained at head office in how to make them. Hesitant to say too much, she said it was a vanilla donut that’s crispy on the outside, but not heavy on the inside.

“They’re delicious, warm and delicious,” Buff added.

Part of the Duck Donuts philosophy is that each donut is custom made.

“We’re not allowed to make donuts until someone walks through the door,” Julia said.

The donut shop is located on the ground floor of the Avenue Inn. The hostel underwent a major expansion about five years ago, but there was still a lot of work to do to get the space ready. Buff said the HVAC system was significantly upgraded to accommodate the two donut fryers. He explained that the system should keep customers and employees cool, and also not exhaust hot air onto hostel guests above. It must be a stand-alone system, he said.

“Yes, that means the store will smell like donuts as soon as a person walks in,” Julia said.

In addition to necessary upgrades, the space is about half the size of a typical franchise location. Buff said to install the new fryers in the space, the front door and decorative window above had to be removed and then reinstalled. Another size issue, he said, is that only one contractor can fit into the space at a time.

It’s nothing that can’t be overcome, Buff said.

The Vaughans already have plans to expand the location – they have signed a lease for the store next door, where they will have seating.

They had planned to open much earlier, but COVID hit, and there were delays in getting the necessary parts and permits. The Vaughans are now aiming to open the store by the end of November; definitely by the end of the year, Buff said.

When it does open, Julia said the store will be open from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., seven days a week during the winter. Weekend hours will increase when spring arrives, she said.

For more information about Duck Donuts, 33 Wilmington Ave., call 302-727-5315 or go to duckdonuts.com and search for Rehoboth Beach.

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