Fisherman’s Picnic 2019 is virtually over. The Lions are all done with fishburgers, the Lions booth gone, the food trucks all gone, the bingo tent down, the music stage gone and parking can be found as well as empty motel rooms but the lines still are out to the street at World’s Best Donuts!
Back in 1977, 1st generation, Merieta built the Donut Shop on the corner of Broadway and Wisconsin Street. As the lumber was delivered a local man at the time had said, “He felt sorry for Merieta as she did not know her little business would not survive.”
She always seemed to have many roadblocks and hurdles with permits and things she had to work through in the years with the city to the mayor and others. But she knew what she wanted. She had worked for Howard Joynes for 20 years and if she made over $2 an hour it was her goal!
Making donuts was the only thing she wanted to do. She worked to cultivate her customer base from day one. Her donut had to be perfect and if it wasn’t it was marked down. She spent many dollars on advertising and on radio ads over the years. She had singa longs in the park with free coffee and donuts and dinners for her customers at the end of the summer.
Over the years she had special music at the shop with EJ Croft on the piano and the Return of Elvis (with our own Elvis Tim Suck). She worked to get people to visit her shop! At Fisherman’s Picnic she invited people to be on her corner, free of charge to sell their wares! On crazy days she gave away free coffee and donuts.
She stood over the fryer for hours on end, always thinking about donuts. She fried donuts while on crutches, she fried donuts with a burnt hand wrapped up! I have seen her almost fall asleep flipping donuts at the fryer! I know today that she had what I call “grit.”
The hub of Fisherman’s Picnic was always at Bear Tree Park, until recent years at Harbor Park. The Lions booth, the announcer with a Lion always singing the “Fishburger Song,” the platform for music and drawings, dunk tank, tractor pull, and food trucks all were on the street two blocks down.
In 1978 Merieta was worried about the Picnic. She was going to stay open past 6 p.m. and sell donuts. She had her grandson Jay, who was 8, help her. He sugared and frosted donuts as she sold them. She locked the door at 8 p.m. She brought out blankets and they slept on the floor by the front counter. He woke up at 2 a.m. and she was already up frying donuts. After 33 years she stepped away from the fryer and the 3rd generation, granddaughters Stacey and Dee took over.
Now after 50 years there is no need to advertise. People come from all over the world and yes, there is the social media!
It is with great pride when I see the 3rd, 4th and coming up 5th generations carry on the family legacy of donuts. With owner Dee is 4th generation, Kyler working beside her along with their great, hardworking crew they deserve a big congratulations on their 50-year anniversary.
I am amazed that after the busy summer, long hours, long lines, up at 2:30 a.m. and then at Fisherman’s they still had the stamina to walk in the parade on Sunday and give away donut holes, 50th anniversary pens and balloons!
Along with Dee and Kyler, were the rest of the Hawsen Family, Kelly with baby Jaimi and Max and Ruby. Jorey and Malorie Brazell along with the family dogs, DJ and Waylon, who proudly wore 50th anniversary balloons. The 2nd generation chose to ride!
Not only did they manage to walk the parade route, but they still had energy to get in on the last bingo on Fisherman’s Picnic on Sunday night from 9-12 p.m. “Big B’s Adult Bingo” for the Sons of the Legion!
So, I was very surprised that there was not one word mentioned at all in the News-Herald. They told of every event and happenings over the weekend. The activities new and old, pictures of everything and not one word about the donut bingo played in the downpour on Friday. (Even though the players had to have a Lions button to play.) Dee handed out umbrellas yet no mention of long lines nor a word. No pictures and not even an honorable mention! How could you not notice the long lines when taking pictures of the minnow races next door?
As a personal note I know that World’s Best Donuts gave a cash gift to the Lions Club plus gift certificates for dozens of donuts for their drawings this year.
So, I want to congratulate the World’s Best Donuts, on 50 years and all you have done and how proud we are. Gramma Rita lives on in the Donut shop and she would be proud.
Every morning I make and deliver a hot breakfast and the day’s lunch at 6 a.m. to Dee and Kyler. Maybe that is where they get their stamina!
Signed by: 2nd Generation Donnie
Donna J. Wilson, Grand Marais
Editor’s note: We cover as many things as we can at the Fisherman’s Picnic. Most event organizers at the Fisherman’s Picnic give their “winners” list to us to publish in the newspaper. We didn’t receive anything from the Donut Shop, but we would love to publish that list and any accompanying photo of the winners.
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