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After entering yet one more bland-beyond-belief donut shop, Jordan Zweigoron ’87 couldn’t take it any longer.
It was time to rebel. This graduate of ISU’s Organizational Leadership program definitely knows how to create a dynamic company culture!
In 2009 Zweigoron left his successful Silicon Valley high-tech career and launched Psycho Donuts, which has quickly become a Bay Area icon with locations in Campbell and San Jose, California. This cheeky establishment, complete with a padded cell, already ranks among the Top 10 Donuts Coast to Coast according to Maxim magazine.
Patrons flock to the shop where they’re greeted by beautiful nurses who provide bubble wrap therapy to minimize donut decision-making anxiety. The uniform-clad psycho nurses will even deliver emergency therapeutic treats to area offices.
“I think of Psycho Donuts as a sensory experience that doubles as a quirky, offbeat art gallery, offering inexpensive original artwork from local artists” explained Zweigoron, AKA Chief Psycho. “It is the world’s first and only light-hearted asylum for wayward donuts and their fans.”
The company has “donutized” everything including hamburgers, fries, pizzas, and tacos, and ice cream sandwiches. These aren’t the real-deal items simply dipped in batter and deep fried. They’re crazy-fresh gourmet confections built in creative shapes and topped with everything from Oreo cookies and Captain Crunch, to Rice Krispies Treats, Beer Nuts, and Nutella.
Top sellers include The Psycho Passionata, filled with organic white chocolate and passion fruit, and the Strawberry Margarita Donut, filled with tequila cream and topped with fresh strawberry icing, freeze-dried strawberries and coarse margarita salt. From Cereal Killer and Jekyll & Hyde, to Cocoa LOCO, not only do these confections taste amazing, they look incredible too!
Psycho Donuts has been featured in Bon Appétit, Entrepreneur, Maxim, American Way, and Food Network magazines, on Fox
Business News, Today, and more. All of this hubbub about a donut shop? Sure, because of the imaginative way Zweigoron has redefined the concept.
“People want something that is unique and different. Each further step we take into ‘really crazy,’ we wonder if it’s too far. And each time, we get such great results we’re compelled to keep going further,” said Zweigoron.
This spring Zweigoron was approached by various production crews looking to shoot a show based around the stores’ quirky take on the morning pastry.
“A reality show would be a boon to business. I’d have to spend virtually nothing on advertising and would expect business to increase tenfold. Hopefully a network will pick us up,” said Zweigoron.
Then again, a reality show could prove to be a psychotic nightmare! You can check out the zany atmosphere and delectable pastries through this recent NBC Channel 11 video and learn more about Psycho Donuts at www.psycho-donuts.com.
Category : Entrepreneurial Excellence
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It seems to be a very interesting company in which I look forward to looking-up their creations!