Early-morning showers didn’t dampen the spirits of the crowds of people waiting for Krispy Kreme to open Tuesday morning. The line of cars stretched down Highway 45 as officers with the Columbus Police Department were on hand to regulate traffic flow.
Four patrol cars were stationed at various points along the roadway, from the doughnut shop north to the entrance of Walmart. The right south-bound lane of traffic was closed to regular traffic and used exclusively for those headed for the Krispy Kreme drive-through.
Karen Stanley, who is handling promotions for the Krispy Kreme store, said drivers would only be able to access the drive-through via the entrance nearest Zaxby’s. A Krispy Kreme trailer sectioned off the parking lot, providing more room for parking and diverting traffic back-up by not allowing a line of cars to form in the parking lot.
In addition to the CPD officers, Krispy Kreme ambassadors also helped control traffic and greet customers with a smile. The ambassadors are a group of volunteers who have delivered countless free doughnuts and coupons to businesses around town.
While long lines were reported at 6 a.m. when the store opened, the crowd had started to wane by 8 a.m.
CPD chief Selvain McQueen said while he feels weather has been a factor in traffic, the morning was relatively smooth with no accidents reported.
Sarah Fowler covered crime, education and community related events for The Dispatch.
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