WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Did you know one of the world’s most favorite doughnut chains started in North Carolina?

Krispy Kreme opened in Winston-Salem in July of 1937 in the area of the city now known as Historic Old Salem.

Although the location has moved twice since its inception, the original flagship store is only a few miles away and has a window through which you can watch the doughnuts being made.

According to the company’s website, people walking up the street would be able to smell the hot doughnuts and would often stop and ask to buy them hot. As demand grew, founder Vernon Rudolph actually cut a hole in the side of his building to sell hot doughnuts directly to the public.

Today, there are more than 1,000 Krispy Kreme locations around the world in countries including Australia, Bangladesh, Kuwait, Malaysia, Russia, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, and Thailand.

Source: Krispy Kreme/Google Maps