Krispy Kreme to open new stores in Cook County

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts plans to open new stores in Cook County beyond its single Chicago-area shop in Elk Grove Village, the company said Tuesday.

The North Carolina-based company plans to open eight new shops in Cook County "over the next few years." The company did not say where exactly they'll open or give a timeline, though downtown Chicago is among the sites.

"There's a high demand for Krispy Kreme in the greater Chicagoland area," Patricia Perry, Krispy Kreme's vice president of U.S. franchise development, said in a news release.

The company signed a development agreement with Chicagoland Restaurants LLC, run by two Miami businessmen, to open the new shops. Operations Director Carlos Larcada has helped lead Levy Restaurants in Chicago, China Grill Management in Los Angeles, and Sushi Maki Restaurants, Krispy Kreme said.

Krispy Kreme once had locations in Glendale Heights, Gurnee, Hanover Park, St. Charles and Mundelein. Sweet Traditions LLC, which operated the Krispy Kremes in Illinois, filed for bankruptcy in 2007 after an accounting scandal in 2004. Krispy Kremes doughnuts continued to sell in grocery stores.

When the Krispy Kreme opened in Mundelein in 2001, police officers were needed for traffic control to handle an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 customers who flocked to the debut. Fans were lined up outside the front door for Krispy Kreme's signature hot glazed doughnuts before the 5:30 a.m. opening.