***Updated, below.***

After 40 years in business — 31 of those on Pearl Street — Dough Boy’s Bakery & Coffee Shop will be closing at the end of July. A handwritten sign in the window proclaims the sad news: “Doughboy’s is Retiring.”

Owner Rod Boutin says that his landlord, Hinsdale Properties, will not renew his lease, and after all these years, he’s not interested in moving. “I’m ready to call it quits,” says Boutin, 76, during a phone interview this morning. “I’ve worked seven nights a week since 1969.” 

That year, Dough Boy’s started in the K-Mart Plaza on Shelburne Road; it moved to 85-87 Pearl Street in 1978. Boutin expressed some regret that he had never purchased his building. “I’ve probably paid enough rent to buy this corner.” 

Boutin and his wife, who worked with him until four years ago, are both ready for a change of pace. “She’s had her fill of it,” he says. The business is for sale, though if Boutin doesn’t find a buyer, some of the equipment will hit the auction block. 

A phone call to Hinsdale was unanswered as of this morning.

Update, 3 p.m.:

Hinsdale Properties property manager Rebecca Lamire responds:

“We felt it was time to end their lease. They’ve been there since 1979 and pretty much under the same lease.We have kept their rent so low for so long to help them stay afloat,” wrote Rebecca Lamire, Hinsdale’s property manager, in a statement. “We always thought they would leave on their own. Obviously, costs have increased since then and we could not afford to continue to carry that. But, they are very dedicated workers. They’ve been a great tenant and addition to Burlington and we wish them the best.”

This article appears in Jul 6-12, 2011.

Corin Hirsch was a Seven Days food writer 2011 through 2016. She was also a dining critic and drinks columnist at Newsday from 2017 to 2022, and contributes to The Guardian, Wine Enthusiast and other publications. She’s spoken often on colonial era drinking and is the author of Forgotten Drinks of Colonial New England, published by History Press in 2014.

19 replies on “Dough Boy’s Bakery & Coffee Shop To Close”

  1. “Obviously, costs have increased since then and we could not afford to continue to carry that.”Because after 30 years you don’t own the building? This is a real polite way of saying, well…we this property we should be getting more for rent from, let’s boot the current tenants and find someone else. What a shitty move by HP, not unexpected necessarily but shitty nonetheless. Enjoy your Retirement DoughBOys

  2. So after 32 years Hinsdale just terminates the lease? Come on, a few more years with minimal increases wouldn’t of hurt. The building will probably sit empty like a lot of other spaces downtown. I am sure by them paying their lease, it helped Hinsdale so it wasn’t a one way street like it appears from the response.Good bye Doughboy. You will be missed.

  3. Industrial food in a wack atmosphere. Surprised Alice Eats never reviewed this place it’s right up her alley. The building and the space could use redevelopment, so this is a perfect opportunity. I wish the Hinsdales well and let’s get that block moving again!

  4. I remember as a child walking with my mother to Dough Boy’s and getting cup cakes that were towering with a cream then covered with an icing, they were in the shapes of pigs and frogs. Honestly it was the highlight of my day when I got one of these!

  6. That’s funny. Was was just wishing this morning that I had more time so I could blog about this, so thanks for covering it. I learned Doughboy’s was closing on Saturday from Pam Scanlon and Michael Neiderer next door at Radio Deli. Doughboy’s is a magic diner. I used to eat there a lot in the nineties.

  7. Thank you for such kind words, I’ll make sure to share this blog post with my grandparents. I’m sure they’ll appreciate it too. :)I know everyone in my family will miss serving the folks of Burlington after all these years. There is definitely something special about having a homestyle breakfast with friends and family on a weekend. I will miss sharing that time with everyone.

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