***UPDATE: CLOSED***
Crunch Donut Factory debuted its franchise model in Arlington, Texas this past summer. Situated near the University of Texas at Arlington, the location and build-your-own options are targeted toward a Millennial crowd insistent on personalization and Instagram-worthy photo ops. Can a donut shop that never sleeps produce consistent results around the clock? We visited twice to find out.
CONTACT INFO
Hours:
Previously 24/7, but now CLOSED
Web & Social:
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HIGHLIGHTS
- Cake Donuts:
- Yeast Donuts:
- Gluten-Free Donuts:
- Vegan Donuts:
- Non-Donut Food Options:
- Coffee:
- Credit Card Accepted:
- Wifi:
- Indoor Seating:
- Outdoor Seating:
- Merchandise:
- Order Ahead:
- Nearby Attraction(s): The Parks at Arlington; AT&T Stadium
THE REVIEW
Crunch Donut Factory opened its doors just this past May. Owners and childhood friends Jim Huntley and Mike Weyneth were inspired by the extreme donuts concept à la Voodoo Doughnuts. While both are new to the donut business, Weyneth is an entrepreneur in the fitness industry, while Huntley has a food and beverage industry background.
The store is clean, colorful and outfitted with a cartoon-like donut statue, great for snapping photos. Check out Arlington Eat’s visit to Crunch Donut Factory for a tour:
PROS:
Crunch doesn’t take itself too seriously; instead, it takes inspiration from celebrities for its donut names. We tried the BB King, Katy Cherry, Ellen Doughgenerous, Leonardo DiOreo, Taylor Crisp, S’Moregan Freeman, Scarlett Doughhansen (retired) and The Crunch. Check out the full menu here.
We love their cheeky play on pop-culture news too, as evidenced by this Instagram caption: “After hearing the news of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s pending divorce, we wanted to offer the two donuts for the price of one! Today Only get the Angelina Jelly and Brad Fritt for the price of one.”
Like custom things? You’ll enjoy the “Build-Your-Own” donut bar concept. For $2.99, you can choose your base donut, choose your frosting, pick your toppings, and opt for a drizzle. Perfect field trip for everyone from UTA study groups to little ones.
Late-night sweet tooth? No problem at “always open” Crunch Donut Factory. They’ll even deliver via Favor.
Like deals? Follow Crunch Donut Factory on social media for ongoing “Cru-pons” and discounts. Bonus: UTA students and staff members always get 20% off with ID.
CONS:
As far as taste goes, our first visit left us somewhat underwhelmed. We agree with other Yelpers on the dryness or staleness of the donuts in the afternoon. We gave Crunch a second try, this time earlier in the day, and noticed a bit of improvement in the fresh department. Still, the density of the cake donuts and lack of consistent quality could be refined.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Crunch Donut Factory is still relatively new to the DFW scene. We recommend giving them a few more months to work out the kinks, or at least visit early in the morning for the freshest batch. The owners are also pretty active on Yelp and social if you have direct feedback.
According to their website, additional locations in Uptown Dallas and Las Vegas near UNLV are expected to open soon.
Would you recommend Crunch Donut Factory to a friend? Comment below!
