Doughnut duo choose Mossman over Port Douglas
A husband and wife doughnut team made their mark in Port Douglas but have chosen Mossman to take their business further. Read here to find out why.
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The rise and rise of Duke’s Doughnuts has continued with the sweet treat business - which originally made its mark at the Port Douglas markets - opening its first bricks and mortar store in Mossman.
The Front Street venture officially began on Friday, March 24, after holding a “soft” opening on March 18.
In the first four hours of trading the store had sold more than a thousand doughnuts and pastries.
The company has a loyal customer base in Port Douglas but Duke’s Doughnuts co-owner Sally Miller said it was an easy decision to set up a store in Mossman.
“We’ve been looking for (a store location) over the last two years, trying to find the right spot, whether it be Cairns or Port Douglas, but Mossman has got such a lovely community,” Mrs Miller said.
“Everyone has been priced out of Port Douglas, house wise, and a little bit business wise, so there’s a lot of families that are now living in places like Cooya Beach, Newell and Mossman.
“All the people down south seem to have bought up all the houses but they’re not actually living in them.”
But while the business had expanded into Mossman, Mrs Miller said they hadn’t forgotten the customers who had supported them in the early days.
“We’re doing some low season trading for the next month so it’ll just be Fridays and Saturdays at the shop,” Mrs Miller said.
“It’s not very busy in Mossman on a Sunday, so we’ll continue to do the Port Douglas markets.”
For Mrs Miller and her husband Mike Miller, Duke’s Doughnuts was born out of necessity rather than a driving entrepreneurial spirit.
Six years ago the couple were “really broke” and looking for extra cash while Mrs Miller was in hospital with their third child.
“Mike was just making the doughnuts at home on his days off and we thought we could make an extra couple of hundred dollars on a Sunday at the (Port Douglas) market and that would get us out of bad debt,” Mrs Miller said.
“But then it (Duke’s Doughnuts) exploded so he literally quit his full time job three months after that.”
While it was too early to say how many staff the new store would hire, Mrs Miller said there would be jobs for Mossman residents.
She said they were hoping to start a program to help rehabilitate youth offenders which would also open up employment opportunities.
“We’d love to give them the opportunity to put some old-school values and skills that are not really taught these days,” she said.
“Little things like making sure everyone comes to work a little bit before you’re meant to be there, you’ve got your clean apron on.
“We also want to offer some mentorship to these younger kids as well.”
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Originally published as Doughnut duo choose Mossman over Port Douglas
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