Krispy Kreme opens 1,000th store with music and fanfare at Wyandotte Plaza

by Mary Rupert
With a performance by the Schlagle High School marching band and dancers, and a visit by Miss Kansas USA, the lieutenant governor and the Kansas secretary of state, Krispy Kreme opened its 1,000th store this morning in Kansas City, Kan.

The store gave away free doughnuts for a year to the first 100 people in line when the store opened at 6 a.m., according to store officials. Tim France, local marketing coordinator for the store, said there were about 120 people waiting in line when the store opened at 6 a.m. Tuesday.

The first camper camped out all night, according to Krispy Kreme’s Stephen Graves, vice president of operations at Krispy Kreme.

Today Krispy Kreme is giving away one free doughnut to everyone who comes to the new store. Other participating Krispy Kreme stores around the world are also giving away one free doughnut to their first 1,000 customers today to celebrate the 1,000th Krispy Kreme store, according to company officials.

The new store is a 2,800 square-foot free-standing building located in Wyandotte Plaza at 78th and State in Kansas City, Kan.

“I’m so proud to be a part of what is a wonderful time at Krispy Kreme as Krispy Kreme continues to grow,” Graves said.

Cindy Bay, senior vice president of Krispy Kreme, said the store has been operating for 77 years and is in 23 countries.

Mike and Janet Parker are the franchise partner, Graves said.

Miss USA Kansas, Alexis Railsback, made an appearance at the event, as well as Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer and Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach.

“What an honor for the state of Kansas to have store No. 1,000,” Kobach said, promising that he would be going through the shop’s drive-in window in the future.

“This is an excellent bit of development for Kansas City, Kan.,” Kobach said, adding that it is part of a revitalization effort.

Wyandotte Plaza has been undergoing renovations during the past year, under the direction of RED Legacy, including the building of a new grocery store. A Marshalls store and PetSmart also are part of the future plans at Wyandotte Plaza. The Wyandotte Plaza redevelopment is a $28 million project in total.

To see an earlier story on the Krispy Kreme opening, see https://wyandotteonline.com/free-doughnuts-tuesday-to-celebrate-wyandotte-plaza-opening-of-1000th-krispy-kreme-store-worldwide/.