East Longmeadow’s Donut Dip to remain closed

Dec. 11, 2019 | Sarah Heinonen
sarah@thereminder.com

The shuttered Donut Dip storefront in East Longmeadow.
Reminder Publishing photo by Sarah Heinonen

EAST LONGMEADOW – East Longmeadow residents will have to make the 8-mile drive to West Springfield to get a fix of a local treat. Donut Dip, a landmark in town for 54 years, will not be reopening the doors of its 648 North Main St. location.

The shop has been shuttered since a severe Oct. 16 storm damaged the building it shared with City Line Liquors.

Donut Dip’s flagship store at 1305 Riverdale St. in West Springfield remains open and has seen an increase in business since the close of the East Longmeadow location.

“We’ve picked up a lot of business from there, especially on the weekends,” said second-generation owner Richard Shields.

A family business, Donut Dip was opened by Charles Shields and his son, Richard, in 1957 as a donut and coffee shop in West Springfield. The East Longmeadow shop opened eight years later. Since then, Richard’s son, Paul Shields, and granddaughter, Katie Warren, have joined the family business.

Donut Dip now offers more than donuts and coffee. It sells a variety of muffins, cookies, and pastries, including danish, fruit squares, and apple fritters. They also offer breakfast sandwiches on bagels, croissants, and English muffins, and flavored coffee and iced tea are available.

A local woman, Ingrid Kuselias, said there might be a silver lining to the shop closing.

“Maybe they need the change, maybe they need the space,” of a new building, Kuselias said, adding that the shop was always busy. She said she hopes they open a new location in the area.

Casey Beecher, of East Longmeadow, gasped when she heard Donut Dip would not be reopening in town, while her daughter, Chloe Beecher, immediately called her father to tell him the news.

“I’m devastated,” Casey said. “I’ve been going there since I was little – my children, too.”

While many residents may be disappointed that the shop is no longer in town, the business is looking toward the future.

“We’re going to keep our eyes open,” for a new location, Shields said.

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