Jimmy Barouxis, owner of Buckeye Donuts, presents a tray of Smiley donuts that will be available free Oct. 25. Credit: Nicholas Youngblood | Arts&Life Editor
Buckeye Donuts’ patrons can expect a fresh serving of Red Rum — or at least a free donut — Friday.
Buckeye Donuts, the popular 24-hour donut shop, will host a promotional event Friday morning for “Doctor Sleep,” the upcoming sequel to classic horror film, “The Shining.” The Sleepless Takeover event will feature giveaways and a chance to win advance-screening tickets, according to the Facebook event page.
Jimmy Barouxis, co-owner of Buckeye Donuts with his mother, Toula Barouxis, said the main focus will be the donuts. Starting at 8:30 a.m., the first 237 visitors will receive a free small coffee and a Smiley donut, all on production studio Warner Bros.’ dime. The donut will depict a “demented” smiley face and contain a red jelly “blood” filling.
“Being a donut shop, the natural thing for us would be to do a donut in connection to the movie,” Barouxis said.
The 237 donuts being given away is a reference to the hotel room number featured in a chilling scene from the 1980 Stanley Kubrick film.
This won’t be Buckeye Donuts’ first promotional event. The restaurant has worked with banks, airlines and even Google in the past, but this represents its first time promoting a major motion picture. Barouxis said Buckeye Donuts is a popular spot for promotions because of its popularity, high-traffic location and connection to college students.
Eric Bretschneider, general manager of Buckeye Donuts, echoed Barouxis’ assessment. He started working at Buckeye Donuts 17 years ago as a college student, when he would study there late into the night.
He said other businesses have tried and failed to replicate its grassroots support among college students.
Bretschneider said other promotional events have varied in success, and he doesn’t know how this one will pan out.
Barouxis and Bretschneider both cited their partnership with Spirit Airlines as particularly chaotic. The promotion involved giving away a plane ticket with the first 300 purchases of a donut.
“It was a zoo. The line was all the way to McDonald’s. People waited for three hours. It was insane. I wouldn’t do it again because it was just too much,” Barouxis said. “And making an airplane shaped donut sucks.”
Buckeye Donuts’ 24/7 hours make it an especially appropriate place for the promotion of a horror movie, Barouxis said. He thinks it’s possible there have been supernatural occurrences at the restaurant before.
“Maybe somebody has seen the afterlife here. They were passed out on a stool at 5 in the morning on a Saturday, and they were between life and death. This is all speculation,” he said.
Bretschneider doesn’t have any ghost stories, but he said Barouxis’ mother can be superstitious.
“She once asked me to go downstairs and check out the ghost in the basement, and I did it because I do what I’m told,” Bretschneider said. “But I don’t know what that’s about. I’m not a superstitious person.”
The Sleepless Takeover will begin Friday at 8:30 a.m. More information can be found on the Facebook event page.
