Steve Stilianudakis has deeply rooted childhood memories about doughnut shops. A native of Queens, he recalls traveling to Long Island in the summers and visiting the Krispy Kreme factory they had there, where doughnuts were made on site.
“I remember going with my parents. Once the doughnuts would come out and they were fresh, there was this green light and everybody would go nuts for it. We always liked doughnuts, and as I was getting older and going around New York City, there was only one place really that kept that old-school feel,” Stilianudakis told What Now New York. “I always knew I wanted to replicate that in New York, but I never had the time or the financial ability to do so.”
Stilianudakis finally gained a pathway to bring his vision to life through connections he has in Montreal. He got in touch with the owner of Homer’s Donuts in Montreal and expressed interest in bringing the concept to New York, with his own twist.
Now, at the age of 34, Stilianudakis has quit his nine-to-five job to bring the old-school doughnut shop he dreams of to a spot in SoHo. He and his business partners have taken a lease for a 1,600-square-foot space at 23 Cleveland Place, with the goal of opening Homie’s Donuts in November.
The spot will have a minimalist design that is fun and nostalgic. Doughnuts will be prepped and glazed on site, a nod to Stilianudakis’s own childhood memories. There will also be a backyard space for people to enjoy their treats on site, as well.
“The smell you get just from walking through those doors — it transports you back to your childhood,” he said. “I can’t explain it.”
In addition to doughnuts, there will be a coffee menu that will tap into Greek coffee culture, honoring Stilianudakis’s Greek heritage.
Stilianudakis’s goal is to make it a neighborhood spot with affordable prices and a welcoming atmosphere. He and his partners will be on site often, getting to know customers and enjoying the space.
“We’re going to be talking to everybody,” Stilianudakis said. “We want it to feel like a mom-and-pop store, and in New York, that’s not as common anymore.”
Eventually, Stilianudakis hopes to expand to more locations, but he and his partners are focusing on this initial SoHo location first and ensuring it delivers quality products for customers.
“We want everyone who walks into Homie’s to love the place,” Stilianudakis said. “That’s our main thing now. If things go well, we want to have a few stores in the city and we’ll see where that takes us. But the main thing is the customer experience — that’s what we’re focusing on.”
