BOARDMAN Teamwork pays off for Krispy Kreme fans

The first person in the lobby had camped out since Monday afternoon.
By DON SHILLING
VINDICATOR BUSINESS EDITOR
BOARDMAN -- Joe Novak and Alex Grantz arrived at the new Krispy Kreme store in Boardman at 5 p.m. Monday, prepared to wait outside all night.
If the North Lima teen-agers were the first customers through the door in the morning, they would win 52 dozen doughnuts and a recliner.
They weren't.
Adam Chasko, 20, of Austintown had been there since 3:30 p.m.
"This is the best," Chasko said after taking a bite from a glazed doughnut handed to him when the doors opened at 5:30 a.m. today. "I don't know if I'm just so hungry from being up all night, but this is really good."
Even though Chasko was first in line, Novak, 16, and Grantz, 15, stayed all night anyway. They stayed warm because the store provided a canvas tent with a table and portable heater. They played cards and talked for hours and then tried to sleep on the pavement.
For their efforts, Novak and Grantz collected a T-shirt and cards that entitle them to 12 dozen doughnuts each. That was good enough for them.
"We're the doughnut masters," Novak said.
Help from his friend
Chasko received a little help to beat them, however.
After he staked his place as the first customer, he realized he had to go to his job as night systems operator at First Place Bank at 7 p.m. He called his friend, Chris Koval, 21, of Austintown, and paid him $10 an hour to sit in his place from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Then they both stayed. At 9 p.m., only Koval and the North Lima teens were in line, but the top 24 spots were filled by midnight. The first 24 customers received T-shirts and 12 dozen doughnuts.
By the time the store opened this morning, about 70 people were in line.
North Carolina-based Krispy Kreme has more than 325 stores, including eight in Ohio.
The store at 796 Boardman-Poland Road, like most of them, is corporate owned, although some are franchised locations.
Becky Shell, a company spokeswoman, said Krispy Kreme is considering opening other stores in the area.
"It will be determined based on the response here," she said.
If the company stages another grand opening like the one in Boardman, perhaps some familiar faces will be in line.
"There were a lot of friendly people," Koval said. "I thought everybody would keep to themselves. It was a great experience."
"I'd do it again," Chasko said.
"Next time, for two recliners," his friend said with a laugh.