Honey Dew Rolls Out Its First Aquidneck Island Location

Newporters may soon have another "sweet" option for their morning breakfast or cup 'o Joe.

Honey Dew Donuts opened its very first store in our area Monday inside the Irving Gas station store at 3302 East Main Road in Portsmouth, and the owner says he hopes to make his way down to Newport in the near future.

"This is the first on the island," said owner Bob Bowen, of Providence, who is the brother of Honey Dew founder Richard Bowen. "I'm hoping to open three to four more in all three towns (Newport, Middletown and Portsmouth) and even in Bristol. We don't have too much of a presence in the area."

It was difficult not to notice the new Honey Dew Donuts store while driving down East Main Road on Monday. A giant inflatable coffee cup, advertising the "local flavor," was set up outside the Irving gas station.

Inside the new Honey Dew, a display of rainbow-sprinkled and glazed donuts tempted customers from behind the polished glass case. A woman was ordering a coffee with cream and sugar to go.

"People were happy we opened," she said.

Honey Dew Donuts will be open seven days a week from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.

"We've been looking to settle in a place down there," Bowen said. "It's a beautiful area."

The new company store will employ a staff of six people. The Honey Dew company now operates 36 stores throughout Rhode Island, according to Bowen. Out of 36, 30 of the stores are franchised. Honey Dew Donuts' first store opened in Mansfield, MA, in 1973. Today, the company operates 153 stores throughout New England.

For more information about Honey Dew Donuts, visit the company's website here.