Donut Den — Restaurant in Joliet

Have a INJURY OR DISABILTY? Then DON'T support DONUT DEN in Joliet! And here's why: I was hired at Donut Den and was offered a job on the spot, seemed like a great place to work. I was upfront with having an old back injury that prevented me from doing some physical work. Tracy, the hiring manager, said that wouldn't be a problem because there were plenty of people on staff to help out where I couldn't. I worked a total of 3 days, had no problems on the 1st day. The 1st day I was asked to sweep and mop I let them know it aggrivated my back injury and there was no problem, someone else did it. The second day a new person asked me to sweep and mop, I informed them again and she asked if I informed Tracy of this and I said yes, from there no problem. 3rd day I was working when another new person asked me to sweep and mop and I had to again inform her of my injury, she began to argue with me because she didn't understand why I couldn't sweep and mop. She was very rude and disrespectful towards someone who has an injury and in the process of filing for disability. She then asked me if I can prove if I can't sweep and mop. I felt very attacked by this young woman and was shocked that she would speak to me or anyone claiming to having an injury/disability in the manner that she did. I gave her some space and tried to later let her know that I felt very disrespected by the way she spoke to me and that I understood that she was young and maybe didn't realize how she came off towards me. She then became defensive and rude once again saying she was now offened for me stating she was young. I was at a loss for words and just ended the conversation because obviously there was no talking to her because she was so upset by the fact that I couldn't sweep and mop. Bruce, the owner, walked in after she left for the day and I introduced myself because we had yet to meet. He then asked me "What is this I hear about you not being able to sweep and mop?" I told him I have a back injury and I told Tracy this upon being hired. He then blankly stared at me and replied "Well I don't know if that is going to work." He stared at me without saying a word after and I had no idea what to say after basically being told he doesn't know if he can keep me hired because I have an injury/disability. Come the next day I get a text from Tracy stating they are going to let me go because they feel my availability now doesn't work for them and they can't train me in the time frame before the holiday season. Mind you I didn't need much of training, I was upselling and they were able to leave me alone at the counter no problem on the 1st day. I also have availability 5 out of 7 days of The week. I could do 95% of what was required of me/my position. Only things I couldn't do were sweep and mop (mind you this place has a lot of floor space and they throw water on the floor. In order to mop and it air dries after being slopped around with the mop. The floor in the back is glossed over so it is very very slippery when wet, I could barely walk without almost slipping) and I couldn't pick up heavy boxes (which weren't required unless I needed more donut boxes from the back but a number of workers can get more boxes beside just me). I did everything else and was more then qualified to work and stay hired. They fired me for having an injury/disability and are trying to cover it up with excuses. I don't know about you, but I wouldn't support a business like that and it's a shame to know there are local businesses like that...

This place USED to be absolutely awesome. They had, hands down, the best donuts around. The donuts had a sweet yeast base that differentiated them from every other donut shop out there. The donuts were so huge, that you could barely fit a dozen in a box.

BUT THAT IS ALL CHANGED NOW.

Today, we took our normal drive past 20 donut shops to get our family favorite to see that they moved locations next door. As part of that move, the whole donut was different. The yeast taste was completely gone from all the donuts. It tasted like cheap Dunkin' Donut base. The donuts were also much smaller. The lid on the dozen closed easily and you could see the bottom of the box with a fully loaded dozen.

There is nothing special about these donuts. Tasted more like sugar than yeast bread. Not worth the drive.

We will probably go back in a month to try one more time and potentially would change this review. Maybe they just had an off day. But something tells me that they changed the old fashioned way they used to make these forever. They taste cheaper. As a family, we are heartbroken that the donuts tasted so ordinary Dunkin' now.

A true gem smashed.

UPDATE

Despite my bad review, I have been back multiple times as they literally are the only choice other than Dunkin Donuts. What I have found ultimately is they are "hit or miss". Some times you go and the donuts are amazing. Other times you go and the donuts are so flat, full of air that its mostly sugar with no substance. So I am just going to give them a 3 out of 5 instead of a 1. When they are good, they are great. When they are not,...

I love their donuts. 5 stars. Absolutely the best around. 6. They're the biggest donuts I've had in my life! 7 stars. Very thick, well cooked, not oily at all. 8 stars. However, their frosting stays wet for days, never dries and this is messy with kids(and myself). -1=7 stars... they also sell out way too soon before they close at 4pm everyday. -1star =6. many times I go by and they're closed early because they ran out. -1 = 5 stars. They need a 2nd bigger location where they can sell a few other things or perhaps start a lunch menu to help pull in people after 10am. Just make it very good soup n sandwiches and stay open till 9pm. But in a better location. Or improve the location u have. There's no drive up and the doors are not disabled ready and are very hard to open on crutch/cane or on a walker/wheelchair. -1 star=4 stars. Very difficult to get inside on my own. Soi mant great things, but also enough not so good.. but...i will go outb off my way to just get their fluffy donuts. The fluffy fried donut is so very good...