New Business Update: Daylight Donuts

A large coffee, two bear claws and six hot wings.

That’s what patrons can order when they walk into the new Daylight Donuts franchise, 1203 E. Broadway, set to open in about three weeks. Co-owned by Shabbir Patel and Nick Patel (no relation), the new doughnut shop could serve both chicken wings and donuts on the same plate.

Shabbir Patel and his son, Zaki, who will manage the store, have lived in Columbia for 11 years. They also operate a coffee kiosk in the mall, Café Klatsh. Wanting to expand, they began looking at other coffee and doughnut operations, including Dunkin’ Donuts and Krispy Kreme.

“We were looking to open a business, but we weren’t sure what business,” Zaki Patel said.

That’s when they stumbled across Daylight Donuts. Zaki Patel said the franchise is up and coming, with over 1,000 locations worldwide. And the hot wings? They’re partnering with another franchise, Broaster, which would offer lunch specials on chicken when it’s just too late in the day for a doughnut.

The Patels were looking at another location on Nifong, but settled on the Broadway spot because of the higher foot traffic. They’ll have a drive-through, but the foot traffic is where they hope to see most of their business, especially from students walking to class, which is why the store will have wi-fi Internet access.

A cook will be in every night at 2 a.m. to begin cooking the next day’s batch of doughnuts in time for the doors to open at 6 a.m.

Preparing for the location’s opening, Zaki Patel said there has already been interest in the doughnut shop.
“We always have people stop by and ask when we’re opening,” he said, “The word is getting out, people are asking.”