The latest Chicago location of Stan's Donuts just began serving pastries and coffee inside of the new Urbanspace food hall in the Loop this week, and the chain is celebrating the opening as it always does: giving away free doughnuts and coffee for life. On Friday, October 1, the first 100 guests to show up to Stan's Donuts (you better believe that there will be a line) will receive a boxed doughnut and an exclusive Stan's T-shirt. One of those 100 boxes will contain a Golden Donut, which entitles its owner to a bunch of free pastries and hot bean juice.
The awarding of the Golden Donut has become a tradition when opening new Stan's Donuts locations, and the company isn't making an exception for its food hall outpost. Doors will open at 7am on Friday, October 1, and those waiting in line will be able to file into the food hall to retrieve their free boxed doughnut and T-shirts—the lucky Golden Donut winner should be revealed in short order.
According to a Stan's Donuts representative, the lifetime supply of free doughnuts and coffee is awarded in the form of an annual credit through Stan's existing loyalty program. The annual credit provides enough funds to purchase about a dozen doughnuts from an Stan's Donuts location on a weekly basis—of course, the bearer could choose to spend the annual sum more quickly (a doughnut party for 100 of your closest friends? Sure, go for it.)
If you want a chance at winning more lemon pistachio, red velvet and caramel marshmallow pocket doughnuts than one person could reasonably consume, you'll probably need to plan on lining up in the Loop well before Urbanspace open its doors at 15 W Washington St on October 1. And if you even if you don't win the grand prize, eating one of Chicago's best doughnuts might make you feel a little better—and it probably won't be long until another Stan's location opens its doors and another Golden Donut is awarded.