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Known for its unique doughnuts and picture-worthy pink boxes, Voodoo Doughnut has opened its newest location in Tempe.
Right off of Rural Road south of Apache Boulevard at 1324 S. Rural Road, Tempe, the bright pink building is hard to miss and within walking distance of Arizona State University.
The company has also committed to giving back to the community by donating a portion of their proceeds from opening day to Tempe Community Action Agency.
Voodoo Doughnut originated in Oregon, and the Tempe store is the company's 19th location. The doughnuts attract customers from all over and stores can frequently be found with lines going out the door, most likely due to their eccentric doughnut flavors. These flavors include, “Grape Ape”, “Ring of Fire,” and of course the “Voodoo Doll.”
Voodoo Doughnut CEO Chris Schultz said he could not pick a favorite as it would be like picking a favorite employee, “because if I pick one the others will get really jealous.”
Schultz did add that the award-winning Bacon Maple Bar “is a great place to start” for Voodoo Doughnut newcomers.
“We have 51 different doughnuts to offer to folks and 20 different vegan offerings,” he said. “So as I tell people, you know, if you come to Voodoo and can’t find something you like, you just don’t like doughnuts.”
While standing in line waiting for the shop’s doors to open at 8 a.m. for the grand opening Sept. 7, Megan Marples said how she is a big fan of Voodoo Doughnut and has been to multiple locations already. She also expressed her love for the Bacon Maple Bar.
“It’s everything you love about breakfast in a doughnut,” Marples said.
Finley Hossack, another customer who was lined up and waiting for the doors to open, said she had never been to a Voodoo Doughnut store before now, but expressed how this location is going to be “dangerous” for her.
“I will be here too often because I love me some doughnuts,” Hossack said.
Marples said it makes her happy to know that she is helping out a good cause in TCAA by purchasing one on opening day.
“In today's world I think it’s important for any company, or any individual, right, to give back when they can,” Schultz said. “We historically do partner with some local nonprofit in the communities that we open in as a thank you really for supporting us. It’s our way of thanking the community for accepting Voodoo into its family.”
TCAA is a non-profit organization and the largest social services agency in Tempe. According to its website, TCAA's mission is, “to eliminate poverty and advance equitable communities.” The services they offer focus on four key areas: food security, health and well-being, housing stability and economic empowerment.
The partnership between Voodoo Doughnut and TCAA emerged from mutual friends that connected the two together, according to Schultz. Schultz said that the partnership “just felt natural” because of TCAA’s important mission that rang true to Voodoo Doughnut.
“It was just kind of a marriage waiting to happen,” Schultz said. “And it was just perfect timing that wedecided to open in Tempe, and they were here, and we’re super proud to be working with them.”
Amanda Lundin is an Arizona State University journalism student. We would like to invite our readers to submit their civil comments, pro or con, on this issue. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org.
