For 29 years, Ernie and Effie Badas have built a coffee and donut community at Heav’nly Donuts on Route 34 in east Derby — despite nearby competition from Derby’s Dunkin’ Donuts, and more recently a Starbucks.
Now, they are looking to open a second Heav’nly Donuts in Oxford — at 35 Oxford Road, less than a mile from the Seymour Starbucks and Oxford Dunkin’ Donuts.
“I have no doubt opening up another Heav’nly Donuts in Oxford will bring in just enough and even more customers to grow tremendously just like this one does every year,” said Ernie Badas, owner of Heav’nly Donuts.
The Oxford Planning and Zoning Commission approved a site plan modification and permit on July 1, according to minutes from the Planning and Zoning meeting.
Once Badas gets a green light from the state Department of Transportation, he plans to demolish a 100-year-old home at the site, and start prepping the property for the new building. He has no estimated date for work, as he doesn’t know when the DOT approval will be complete.
The Scene
Heav’nly has become a community meeting place for many Valley residents.
“This is a enjoyable place to come for coffee,” said Pete Garguilo, a Heav’nly Donuts’ afternoon regular. “This is where I met some friends and now we all come in the afternoon everyday hangout and drink coffee.”
Mackenzie Walkinshaw, 19, said every employee is always polite, making a conversation with her or simply telling her to have a good day.
“That is why Heav’nly puts a smile on my face,” said Walkinshaw. “I love the chocolate covered banana iced coffee and how they have so many flavors and options for their food and drinks.”
The shop hosts “Cruise Nights” on Sundays filling the parking lot up with classic cars.
“They come from all over to look at the different kinds of cars, eventually becoming our customers as well,” said Ernie.
Everything is made from scratch, said Effie, which helps makes Heav’nly popular. Last summer, the shop was named one of the top five donut shops in Connecticut by a food blogger, Foodie Fatale.
Click play on the video above to see Ernie making turnovers at the shop.
“Heav’nly Donuts is not just an in and out breakfast place. Heav’nly became the community’s hangout place to get a cup of coffee and enjoy their favorite donut,” said Ernie. “That is the kind of place we are.”
The Owners
Ernie grew up in the Valley, and said he always wanted his own business. He went to a school in Minneapolis, where he learned the fundamentals of managing a business.
He worked at Mister Donut in the same spot where Heavn’ly Donuts now operates in Derby. Then Dunkin’ Donuts acquired the Mister Donuts chain in the 1980s, and closed the Derby shop. Ernie opened back up under the Mister Donut name, then changed it to Heav’nly Donuts about eight years later, he said.
Effie was raised in Greece and came to America when she was 19. She makes homemade baklava, Spanish pies and even dog treats she calls Hoja Bonez.
“Heav’nly’s drive-through makes it even quicker for the work crowd to come by on their way to work,” said Ernie.
James Badas, 19, the owners’ son and part-time worker, said he is very proud of his parents and how hard they work to run their business.
“I gained a strong work ethic from them that helped me become the individual I am today,” said James. “This is my second home.”
The hardest part of a business is trying to get people in the door, said Ernie. Throughout the last year, more people have started going to Heav’nly after News 8 did a segment on the car cruise nights, he said.
Peter Badas, 29, the owners’ other son and full-time manager, will work at both Heav’nly locations once Oxford opens, said Ernie.
This article was reported through a collaboration between the New Haven Independent, Valley Independent Sentinel and the Multimedia Journalism class at Southern Connecticut State University. The students are profiling small businesses around the New Haven area.
