ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – Right now, many bakeries are working around the clock to prepare for Fat Tuesday.
“Fat Tuesday’s nuts for us,” said Louis LaMarche, owner of Donut Connection in Escanaba. “It’s our biggest day by far.”
At Donut Connection, Fat Tuesday is such a big event that the staff has had to extend the celebration to more than just one day.
“We actually sell pączki now Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday—the 15th through the 17th—this year,” LaMarche said. “We do a lot of preorders, and we encourage people to do so. Last year, there was a line out the door all day, so it’ll be pretty nuts in here.”
In addition to the regular selection of donuts, the shop is offering twelve varieties of pączki.
“Apple raspberry, strawberry, black raspberry, lemon, Bavarian cream, Boston cream, vanilla, chocolate, and pistachio angel, so kind of our whipped filling,” said LaMarche.
Last year, Donut Connection made more than 5,000 pączki for hungry customers. This year, the team is aiming to sell more than 6,000. According to LaMarche, Fat Tuesday sales mean a lot for local businesses during their slower season.
“Winters are tough here, especially when we rely on a lot of people who pass through—surprisingly—in the summertime for donuts and things,” he said. “It’s a big boost for us, helping us kick off spring and getting some people in here.”
The day and its signature pastry are longstanding traditions for people all over the world.
“Historically, it was a way to use up all the sugar, eggs, and flour and things they had in the house before Lent,” said LaMarche. “It’s kind of nice for people to just pig out. We don’t believe in New Year’s resolutions and diets around here, so just one good blowout and then start over again on Lent and take the reins again.”
Businesses like Donut Connection keep the celebration going locally year after year.
“We’ve seen some growth for sure, and Fat Tuesday gets a little busier for us each year,” LaMarche said. “We’ve tried to have more of an online presence with social media, drawing people from out of the area passing through on the way to Marquette or the bigger tourist spots. We’ve seen business grow over the last couple years for sure.”
Donut Connection will be open from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fat Tuesday. The shop is located at 2315 1st Avenue North.
