Located in Downtown Tampa the Hot Donut Cart has been the Go To place to get a fresh hot donut and a cup of coffee for 30 years. Owner Bruce Frechette, having tried many things in his lifetime, like the ice cream business, real estate, even a consulting business, had a fresh hot donut while traveling in Ocean City, MD at a place called Dipper Dan’s. That donut changed him forever. He came home from his trip, and remembering the experience in his own words said, "I’ve never, never forgotten that moment since.”
When asked how he decided to take that experience and turn it into a business Bruce explained, "Thirty years ago, no one made good coffee downtown, or served fresh hot donuts”. So he formed a plan to offer fresh hot donuts like the one he had in Ocean City, and hot coffee from a cart, choosing a spot outside City Hall, "since the mayor was there", and gave it a shot. People tried it, loved it and have been loyal customers since. Bruce gets up early each morning and can be found serving from his cart by 6:30 a.m., carrying on with customers about last nights game, news and politics at Franklin and Kennedy.
He calls his regulars by first name and vice-versa; he believes he is memorable because, “People appreciate my abrupt personality”! Bruce serves more than donuts and coffee these days, our favorite is his Cuban Toast, you can also grab a quick breakfast sandwich and other 'fast' hot and ready foods from his cart including Smoothies! His most popular item however has never changed: The glazed donut! No surprise there!
He and his son, who owns and operates another cart located near Yolk, White, and Associates, like to "keep things simple". They do not have paper or online menu, just a couple of guys making a living, one since 1986, with a cart serving busy downtown workers on the city streets. Be sure to look for Bruce, he is still at the same location and would love to meet you, but don't get there past noon, he will likely be gone!
