Triangle Radio Podcast Episode 10: Wake N Bake Donuts

Listen to Episode 10 now at www.TriangleRadioPodcast.com!

On this episode, Jordan goes on location to meet with Danny Tangredi the owner of Wake and Bake Donuts. Located in Carolina Beach, Wake N Bake is a cool, unique bakery that puts a twist on the morning pastime of coffee and donuts. About 20 years ago while attending college in Maryland, Danny came up with the name "Wake and Bake" and never gave up on creating the business. They opened their doors in October of 2014 and because of his determination, business savvy skills, and creative donut artistry, they have become a staple in the area and somewhat of a household name!

You'll find both classic and unique offerings at Wake N Bake.

If you head down to the Carolina Beach area, you'll often hear locals and loyal vacationers sing praises about the local donut scene and Wake N Bake is no exception. Danny shares that as a student at University of Central Florida, his mornings consisted of a lot of coffee and a lot of weed smoking that led to a sweet tooth and his usual breakfast included things like cheese danishes, donuts, or muffins. He realized that no one was marketing with the name "Wake and Bake" and was determined to do something with it. He thought about making it a bakery, but didn't bake and wasn't sure how it would get off the ground. But years later, he told his wife who thought it was a great idea, and Wake N Bake finally got off the ground.

At the time, they were living in Maryland, and she took Danny to a local donut shop, serving up nothing but hotcake donuts and crazy toppings. Danny realized he didn't have to learn how to make every kind of pastry like he originally thought - all he had to do was learn to make a donut and come up with some fun flavors and toppings.

Making donuts took a lot of research and several nights on the Internet, including the equipment needed for baking, how to operate the store, and what distributors and companies can provide the ingredients. When they were opening, their distributor mentioned that they knew a guy, Adam, who was familiar with the equipment and ingredients. So Adam came to Wake N Bake for three days, and helped refine some of the operations and the donut making process.

Originally from Maryland, Danny and his family didn't immediately have the Carolina Beach storefront. He moved down with his family, but was too nervous to quit his outside sales job immediately. Eventually, with some money saved, his wife encouraged him to make his idea really come to life. With other donut shops in the area and the seasonal nature of the beach, they initially weren't sure where to set up shop. Ultimately, they decided to be in Carolina Beach where they lived and were well received.

Donuts and A Beach View? There's Nothing Better.

Getting off the ground, they built up a strong Facebook following and some hype before the shop even opened. And once they were opened, they committed to customer service and a quality product, something that gave them lasting power. They've also used the seasonality to their advantage: trying out new flavors, names, and items and gaining feedback from their year-round customers.

Wake N Bake is grateful to still be going strong in Carolina Beach, especially after several other donut shop competitors moved in. Still, their commitment to a fun environment and true dessert, helped them stay ahead of the region's donut shop boom. Danny notes that personality is a huge factor in hiring new employees. They want everyone to be genuinely happy in their position and excited about work, rather than providing a more robotic hospitality experience. When you enter Wake N Bake, you're greeted with genuine people who are passionate about what they do.

Jordan and Danny of Wake N Bake Donuts

As for the menu, there's lots of delicious options to be found, some, though not all, with a nod to the name inspiration. Danny does note that while the origin of the name comes from stoned mornings, his goal is to keep Wake N Bake inclusive to the whole community. There may be certain items that play up the culture, but aren't in your face, like the 'Espresso High' or 'Apple Crisp Fatty'. His philosophy is sort of, "If you know, you know."

Popular standouts include the Wake N Bacon, with a maple glaze and bacon crumbles, and seasonal specials like Fire, with ghost pepper glaze, a candied jalapeno, and a chocolate filling. Of course, you'll find more classic items like your glazed donuts, that are also bestsellers.

Wake N Bake Donuts is located at 1401 N Lake Park Blvd #46, Carolina Beach, NC 28428.

You can order online through their website and also check them out on Facebook.