Blue Collar Joe’s eyes downtown Roanoke
Hailing from a former gasoline station in Daleville, Blue Collar Joe’s culinary arts-style doughnuts have attracted fans locally and perhaps on a wider scale. Owner Daniel Knight is making a name for his doughnut brand, with an upcoming scheduled appearance on the April 10 episode of the Food Network Challenge’s “Donut Champions.”
But locally, Knight is cooking up new plans in downtown Roanoke to sell his sweet round doughnut cakes.
Knight told me today that he is finalizing a lease to open a shop in the city’s downtown. Negotiations are underway for a downtown location, though Knight would not reveal the address. This would be a second shop for his doughnut business. Blue Collar Joe’s is not leaving Daleville, Knight said.
He said he may be ready to offer more details next week. I’ll keep you posted!
Also, read this December story by my colleague, Lindsey Nair, about Knight’s participation in the Food Network Challenge.
March 31, 2011 - 11:00 AM
Great news! Love BCJ’s but just too far out of Roanoke to be a regular stop. Can’t wait to find out more details.
That would be AMAZING!!! But not for my waistline
I’m looking now for a location for a Curves Gym in Downtown.
Blue Collar Joe donuts are THE finest bakery treats, period.
I gladly make the half-hour drive to pick up a dozen in Daleville. A downtown location would be delightful!
I would be great to have a location in SW county also.
I’m so glad to see alot of new eaterys coming to the downtown area BCJ’s will be a welcome addition. There donuts are the bomb.
Quite a treat. I stopped going there because they are waaaaaaaaaaaay out of town. Now we can become re:acquainted!
This makes me happy! I love BCJ’s donuts and it always made me sad that they’re so far away. That makes them a very rare treat, which is probably how they should stay but man if they move downtown it’s going to be a serious problem for my diet.
Yes!! Great news!
Maybe in the remodeled city market bldg?
That’s wonderful that Blue Collar Joe’s will be downtown too! In addition to great doughnuts they also have great wraps, hot dogs, smoothies, ice cream, and coffee drinks. It will be a nice addition to downtown Roanoke!
I totally have been saying for the last year and a half that they’d be perfect for downtown. Downtown eateries are great, but there’s no super quick coffee/donut shop. You have Mill Mountain, but they don’t quite have that breakfast thing going for them. How’s about a donut and a cup of coffee for a couple bucks in and out and you’re done. Perfect!
What happened to the cupcake store in downtown Roanoke?
Scott I’ve been saying the same thing. When Dunkin Donuts announced they were looking for other Roanoke locations, downtown was the first thing I thought of. Donuts are the perfect item to have available during business meetings and I’m sure a lot of people will like being able to walk over and get them instead of having to stop on the way into work.
OH MY GOSH! This is awesome news. If you haven’t tried one of these donuts you are in for a real TREAT! I work downtown, so location downtown would be AWESOME!!
Oh and Jenny, this better not be part of some elaborate April Fools joke!
An interesting story but what’s the date today?……
We do not joke about donuts; donuts are serious business. Truth is truth, but reality is relative.
Puck Jenny broke this yesterday so if it is an April Fools joke it would be cheating.
I assure all of you that the Blue Collar Joe’s news is not an April Fools joke! It is the truth, and I’m hopeful that we’ll find out more details next week.
I adore BCJ’s donuts! And for the SWCO people who can’t wait for downtown to open – Roanoke Bagel Company has an “item exchange” program going on.
They serve BCJ’s donuts two or three days a week. Very limited selection – but when the craving hits, it hits! I think they serve them on Thurs. – Sat. In return, BCJ’s serves RBC’s donuts.
Yay! I cannot wait! Great news – thanks Jenny!
People make it sound like Botetourt County and Daleville are hours away from Roanoke, 20 to 25 minutes on 81 and you are here from anywhere in the Roanoke/Salem area, but i am glad to hear he is branching out, the creations from BCJ’s are the best anywhere. Looking forward to see if he won next week on the food network.
We spoke at the store…Salem is really where you should open a second location!
Our thanks to EVERYONE for your encouragement and support! It really does mean a lot to all of us here at Blue Collar Joe’s. And to think…today only our 2 ½ year anniversary! What a wild ride!!
Daniel Knight (aka Blue Collar Joe)
@Mike T,
As much as I love donuts, 20 to 25 minutes is a little long to go for them, even if they are the best donuts ever.
Agree with Dave, if you have no other reason to be out that way, a 1 hour round trip is pushing it…even for the best donuts I’ve ever had
It’s great that BCJ is opening downtown–they’re the closest we have to Tim Horton’s in the area.
But I question the “inconvenience” of driving to Botetourt to partake of its many wonderful offerings when Botetourt residents have the “inconvenience” of driving into Roanoke for its many opportunities and offerings as well. Quit whining and be thankful that we have so many cool things like BCJ available in the valley.
From my house in SW county it would be 27.2 Miles each way. That is a minimum of two gallons of gas in a car that gets good mileage. With the current cost of gas at $3.59 and rising that adds $7.18 to the price of the donuts. Now I admit they ARE the best donuts ANYWHERE but the cost of gas to get there almost doubles their price. In a time when I am thinking twice about driving 10 minutes down the road to the store ANY trip across town gives me pause. So GLAD they are coming closer! Yay!
OMG I am going to get FAT!