CAROLINA BEACH — The sweet springtime tradition indicating summer is calling officially arrives in a little over two weeks.
Britts Donuts — in operation since 1939 — flips on its open sign March 31, 4 p.m. Hours will be Friday, 4 p.m. – 10 p.m., Saturday, 8:30 a.m. – 10 p.m., and Sunday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. until Memorial Day. Then the shop will be open seven days a week until right after Labor Day, when it closes again for the season.
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Britts remains North Carolina’s darling donut shop and has been recognized nationwide by Food + Wine, Our State, Saveur, and National Geographic magazines.
Bobby Nivens purchased Britts more than 50 years ago, though his relationship with the pastries began when he was a teenager. Nivens started working for original owner H.L. Britt as a high-school student in 1954 and bought the shop in 1972.
The crispy, light donuts come only one way: glazed. Each one gets hand-rolled, fried to order, and is served piping hot. A kitchen assembly line of rollers, dunkers, glazers and servers keeps the customer line down the quarter-mile boardwalk moving quickly. Though its popularity brings out people in droves, so prepare to wait — especially on opening day.
The sweet treats cost around a buck each or up to $10 a dozen and the restaurant only accepts cash.
Below is Port City Daily’s interview with Nivens from spring 2021 as the donut shop was moving into high gear Memorial Day weekend.
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