Hey Utica! Who remembers Dan-Dee Donuts? There were several locations sprinkled throughout the Mohawk Valley.

attachment-dan dee donuts uptown
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Dan-Dee Donuts began springing up in Central New York beginning in the late 1950s. It was started by Jerome "Jerry" Rosenblum and Tom Watkins. Known for their coffee and "50 varieties" of donuts, they had locations in Utica, Yorkville, Herkimer, Little Falls, among others. At their peak there were roughly 20 Dan-Dee Donut shops throughout Central New York. Most were open 24 hours.

Dan-Dee Donuts (fan page) on Facebook
Dan-Dee Donuts (fan page) on Facebook
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Joseph T. Ferlo, co-owner of Ferlo's Baking Co., merged with Dan-Dee sometime in the 1980s, according to his 2011 obituary. Dan-Dee's eventually started closing down one-by-one, but the original Ferlo's Bakery still operates on Floyd Avenue in Rome.

SOMEONE MAKES RETRO "DAN-DEE DONUTS" SHIRTS

I must not be the only Dan-Dee Donuts fan out there, because a fellow enthusiast has taken it upon themselves to create retro t-shirts for the defunct donut shop. The shirts can be purchased at Retropolis Tees. There are a few different designs, but how can you not go with the classic yellow? It's just like the signs! Check it out:

Retropolis Tees
Retropolis Tees
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It's hard to forget that smiling cherub face with a donut on his head. The bright yellow signage was very effective at getting your attention and making you want to stop in. Of course, the delicious smell of donuts didn't hurt either.

Now there's a Dunkin' Donuts practically on every street corner. Dan-Dee harkens back to a time when donuts were a little more "special."

From A to Z: Businesses You Miss From Your Childhood

It's always fun to reminisce. Who knew there was so many businesses that we were all impacted by.
From A to Z, here's just a few we'd love to experience one last time.

YUMMY!! Dip Your Donut At Any of these 13 Top Upstate New York Donut Shops

So what is your pleasure? Glazed? Cinnamon? Powdered Sugar? Or do you just revel in the nostalgia of a fresh, hot plain cake donut just like Grandma once made?

In this age of Krispy Kremes and Dunkin' Donuts on every corner in America (it seems) there is something to be said, something to be treasured about a mom-and-pop donut shop that has been around for 25, or even 30 years.

Here is a list of 13 of the best ones in Upstate New York

Cider Donuts and Halfmoon Cookies: An Upstate New York Tradition

When frost is on the pumpkin and the leaves start putting on a show, it is time for Upstate New York to enjoy the splendors of a beautiful autumn.

No fall season is complete without two of our favorite treats: apple cider donuts and halfmoon cookies. I know you can get fresh squeezed cider during this season only, and you can get halfmoon cookies all year long, but lets face it. Neither tastes as good as when you get them from a roadside market or farm store in October!

There are hundreds of places where you can get these seasonal treats. Here is a sampler of "what is out there."

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