Survey: Sweet Praise For Broad Street Dough Co., Freehold Twp.

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP, NJ — After eight years of a successful Oakhurst business, and a post-COVID boom at a second Freehold Township location, the Broad Street Dough Co. knew it was on the right track with its creative, custom doughnuts.

Now it's gotten some sweet news in a recent survey of Best Doughnuts in America by Lovefood, a foodie site.

According to the Lovefood survey, Broad Street Dough Co. is a standout in New Jersey, even in a state with a well-deserved rep for top-notch eateries.

Broad Street Dough Co. – with a shop each in Freehold, and Oakhurst (and Encinitas, Calif.) – "has become the go-to place for anyone craving doughnuts in New Jersey. It’s all about the fresh, made-to-order donuts, with more than 40 rotating varieties on the menu each day," Lovefood says in the survey.

And Brielle Hlavach, a manager at the Freehold Township shop at 177 Elton Adelphia Road off Route 9, was happy to explain the company's recipe for success.

Take some of the "Old School" specialties, such as the traditional glazed doughnut. You come into Oakhurst or Freehold Township and ask for it - and it's made to order - "hot fresh," she says.

There is a huge variety of doughnuts for any season, any holiday, any occasion: Consider "Cookies and Scream" bites or "Going Batty" for Halloween.

The names are usually a group effort by employees and the names reflect the local area - like the "Route 9" for the Freehold shop, Hlavach said.

Then there are the holidays that reflect all the special days on the calendar, from New Year's Day to Christmas, with Lunar New Year, Purim, Easter, Teacher Appreciation and Pride Day all represented, too, among many others.

But attention to what the customer needs is a major factor in the offerings.

Doughnuts can be purchased that are vegan or gluten free, or both "for vlugens," Hlavach said.

The shops are also pareve and Kosher-certified, meaning any Jewish dietary restrictions can be observed.

There are dairy-free and nut-free items, also.

The shops also cater special custom orders for customers' own events.

Location, location

The western Monmouth location opened in 2019, but soon hit the COVID wall. But post-COVID the Freehold store is "popping off," Hlavach says.

And there is good news for doughnut fans in southern Monmouth. Coming later this year or early 2024 a Wall location will open, the third in Monmouth County. That will be on Route 35, in the vicinity of the former Circus Drive-In, she said.

The Ocean Township store in Oakhurst in on Route 35 north, between Deal Road and West Park.

The website also refers to an Encinitas, Calif., location.

The story there is that the company founder, Desdemona "Des" Dalia of Montclair, has two brothers in California and the siblings decided to open a spot there, Hlavach said.

"It's so popular. It's right on the beach. It's doing great," Hlavach added.

And the shops' fun atmosphere adds another dimension to Broad Street Dough Co.

The shops are adorned for every holiday, Hlavach said, and Halloween is the perfect chance to pull out the stops for some suitably spooky decorating.

But it still comes down to the doughnut - and fresh is always the priority.

As its owner says about its inception, "Broad Street Dough Co. was born from the simple need for a fresh doughnut."