So, you’ve just finished what has to be the most incredible fresh apple cider donut that has ever passed by your taste buds and the only question that remains (aside from, “When can I have another one?”) is “How did this moment come to pass?”
Moe’s Donuts is the culmination of a chain of events that have taken nearly 50 years before coming to this point. Back in the mid-1960’s two families living a few miles from one another in the little town of East Longmeadow, Massachusetts each welcomed the arrival of a child to their households, and as the years passed by young Maureen and Mark both began a journey that would lead to the donut that you have just experienced.
Maureen working her Dad’s fields.
Maureen’s lineage came from the impeccable culinary talents of Ireland, Italy and Poland. A family of farmers, she learned from an early age the importance of the freshest and best ingredients and the intricate networks of farmer’s markets, shows and events. She divided her time between working the family farms in Agawam and setting up at the local markets, where her hard work and achievement of goals was frequently rewarded with trips to the White Hut. This is where she also gained a strong foothold in the intricacies of customer service and sales.
Mark’s grandmother and her trusty Rambler.
During Mark’s younger years he was watched over by his grandmother while his parents, both educators, worked. His grandmother, with years of experience in the bakeries of North Brookfield, Massachusetts during the Great Depression brought Mark into the kitchen where he became familiar with the delicate blend of mixes into doughs and the importance of portions, proportions and making every mix just right. It was here that the secrets of the perfect donut were passed from one generation to the next.
The years passed and as fate would have it and in the true American tradition, Maureen and Mark began to date at a parish hall dance during high school. Their love of the kitchen was second only to their love of each other and while Maureen mastered the recipes and business savvy of her family, Mark went to work in the local Friendly restaurant, quickly mastering the craft from complex ice cream sundaes to savory steakburgers. The match was as natural as sugar and cinnamon and shortly after Maureen finished her college and Mark came back from the Navy the two were married.
Moe and Mark…”then”.
Life happens, as they say, and careers and family paved the path for the two. A home was built, children born and raised, careers entered. Maureen, driven by her natural abilities and drive quickly rose through the ranks of a national direct-sales organization, building an effective team that brought them repeated success and recognition. Mark turned towards public service embarking on a career that, while we can’t go into detail here, let’s just say gave him a very comprehensive and intimate knowledge of coffee and donuts.
Moe and Mark…”now”.
We have come to the “now”, and as their children leave to seek their fortunes and the pace slows, the circle comes back to their true calling: that unbelievable donut that just a short time ago was nothing but a series of disparate ingredients, time and temperature waiting for fate to bring them all together. Maureen put her knowledge of business and kitchen expertise to bear on finding the perfect ingredients to make these treats. Mark took a used trailer from an online ad and converted it into a rolling repository for the tools and equipment necessary to take the donuts to those who would seek them.
So we aren’t just coming up with a witty tagline when we say that nobody knows do’s like Moe. A gift such as this is far too precious to hide, so it is our privilege and honor to be able to bring our donuts to you. And we cannot thank you all enough for your continued support of our dream.