Boxer Donut owner Eric Brown has been in the coffee industry for nearly 20 years – his first coffee job was actually right down the street at Starbucks in Nyack! It was at the mega chain that Brown fell in love with the food and drink world and knew that opening a coffee shop was his ultimate goal.
In 2017, while working at Gypsy Donut, the stars aligned and Brown was able to purchase the business on North Franklin Street to serve as the first location for Boxer. A few years later, in 2022, Brown moved the business across the street to a larger location with a full kitchen, outdoor seating area, and expanded bike parking.
For Brown, the quality of the donuts and beverages served is the top priority.
“We make every donut by hand every day from scratch,” says Brown. “Whenever possible, we buy local. All of our specials are super seasonal based on what we get our hands on at peak ripeness. Nothing artificial, no preservatives. Our strawberry glazed donut is pink because of the strawberries ‒ no food coloring or extracts required. Our coffee is roasted fresh ground and brewed to order. All our coffee flavorings are made in house as well. This allows us to really fine tune the quality, sweetness, and variety that we offer.”
When asked why he chose to ground his business in Nyack, Brown’s answer is simple – the community.
“Purchasing the shop I was already working for certainly had a lot to do with [choosing Nyack],” Brown says. “But, moving here for college I absolutely fell in love with the people. I’ve made lifelong friends; I met my wife here and now we’re raising a family here. This little village got its hooks in us the minute we moved here and it’s been an absolute joy to live and work here ever since.”
Looking forward, Brown hopes to open multiple locations and product placement in other shops throughout the tri-state area. He encourages customers to check the store’s social media for any updates, like possible pop-ups and collaborations with other local businesses in the near future.
“We love the little spot in Nyack we’ve carved out. Couldn’t ask for a better community or customer base.”
You can visit Boxer Donut at 17 North Franklin Street seven days a week from 7am to 7pm.
