MANCHESTER — A Manchester icon has been sold, and the new owner of the former Mrs. Murphy’s Donuts is a lifelong resident who plans to keep everything but the name — and grow the business by adding a deli and new doughnuts.
Courtney Callo purchased Mrs. Murphy’s Donuts at 374 Depot St., and her first day was Nov. 5. She spent the weekend renovating with fresh paint and new stool tops along with a coffee bar. Immediate changes will include an expanded line of breakfast sandwiches with plans to add some specialty doughnuts to the longtime favorites. She has also put in a point of sale system, which means the shop will take credit cards.
Callo is renaming the business Willoughby, after her former yellow Labrador retriever. Dogs will be a theme throughout the restaurant, with future sandwiches named after Callo’s former canine companions.
Eventually, Callo plans to expand into the lunch arena by adding a deli. She hopes to get there by featuring soups and chili, but will spend the winter studying just how make those changes. She said Manchester Discount Beverage, which is next door, used to have a popular deli.
“I’m looking at how to bring that back in,” Callo said.
It’s that local knowledge — and being a familiar face — that Callo believes will work to her advantage. She knows, for example, the different crowds that show up every day for a cup of coffee and doughnut. She knows the early crowd that has to be get to work, and comes in not long after the doughnut maker finishes around 4 a.m. She knows the 7 a.m. crew and the retirees who come in the early afternoon.
In addition to those who were raised here, she knows the people who have retired here, own ski homes and come every year. She also knows the people who come after church on Sunday, and parents who buy treats for their children’s soccer teams. She knows the business owner who stops by to grab donuts for the employees.
On Monday, while the shop was closed for renovations, 92-year-old George dropped by to say hi and let her know he had shown up at 5:30 a.m., like he does every morning, and saw the changes underway. He came back to say hello and was offered a chance to look around. Callo promised the coffee would be hot and the doughnuts ready for him the next day at 5:30 a.m.
“Because I’m born and raised here, I know all of them,” Callo said.
She will be working with two of her daughters. Alina will work in the shop full-time, while Petra will be part-time in the shop.
Despite the name change, the “Mrs. Murphy’s” name will continue to be honored, and she purchased the rights to the recipes so the legacy doughnuts will not change.
“You will only find Mrs. Murphy’s Donuts at Willoughby Eatery,” Callo said. ”I kind of wanted to make it mine, but Mrs. Murphy’s Donuts is a legend that will not be going away.”
Those doughnuts will include the classics everybody has come to love over the years, but Callo said she will be adding specialty and designer doughnuts to the mix, possibly as a doughnut of the month to see what people like.
“I’m just going to have fun of it,” Callo said. “And see what people like.”
Callo bought the company from Drew Bove, who for all practical purposes was the only owner most people have ever known. The shop was opened by one of the two brothers who opened the original Mrs. Murphy’s Donuts shop in Massachusetts in 1977.
Bove bought the business in 1981 and it has been the go-to doughnut shop in town since.
It’s been around so long that Callo said she keeps running into people who have worked there over the years.
Callo herself has been a customer from the beginning. Her connection to the business was formed at Long Trail School, where she worked for 33 years — 25 as the director of admissions at the private middle and high school in Dorset, as well as a German teacher and, most recently, director of development.
At Long Trail School, Callo worked with Drew’s wife, Beth Bove.
“I had an amazing 33 years in education and I had a lovely career,” Callo said. “Now, it’s great to reinvent myself.”
She said Long Trail School students have been stopping by to say hello.
“I’ll miss the kids,” she said.
She said it was before the pandemic that Drew Bove asked her if she would ever want to buy the doughnut shop.
“I looked at him and said, ‘I think I do,’” Callo said. “I thought, this is what I want to do. I’m a people person. I love my community. I can’t think of anything better.”
Callo is planning a grand opening on Black Friday, Nov. 26.
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