Cover photo by Lexie Moskovit

Joe and Joan Tuckman of Fairfield announced on Sept. 13 they are the new franchise owners of Donut Crazy in Westport.

The couple moved to Fairfield three years ago, and fell in love with the area. They had previously commuted to New York City everyday for work and were looking for a change.

“We were thinking about local business and trying to do something more close to home,” Joan Tuckman said.

The couple wasn’t sure what local business they would own until their eight-year-old son and Joe Tuckman came back from a hockey game and stopped by the Donut Crazy on Black Rock Turnpike. They went to go grab their favorite donuts, but there were no donuts in the shop, so Joe Tuckman immediately messaged Donut Crazy on Instagram asking them why. Tuckman also asked the owner on Instagram about opening a location near them in Fairfield. They then realized that there was a location in Westport.

As they continued talking through Instagram, the position of owning the shop in Westport arose. The couple decided to take a chance by putting in an offer to buy. Soon after, the couple became franchise owners of the popular donut shop.

“We want to grow this company, and get more involved in the community,” Joan Tuckman said. “We want to get more customers in the door.”

To increase sales, the Tuckmans are putting their previous experiences working in sales, marketing and magazine advertising to use. According to Westport Patch, Joan worked for publications under both Hearst and Condé Nast, and Joe's past career focused on King, the company that created Candy Crush, Yahoo! and Condé Nast.

Hoping to appeal to more students, the Tuckmans are offering Staples students a 10 percent discount off food, coffee and donuts.

“Unlike other donut places they have really unique flavors, and they fit the name of the store because they are crazy looking,” Stella Corenthol ’21 said.

According to Donut Crazy’s website, the company has three other locations, and is coming to West Hartford soon.