Allston's Twin Donuts, a local favorite since 1955, will close on March 23 due to financial pressures. Known for its hearty breakfasts and puffy doughnuts, the diner has been a popular spot for college students and night shift workers. While the Allston location shuts down, the sister cafes, Café Mirror and Brighton Cafe, will remain open, as per Eater Boston.
The decision to close follows a sustained period of rising food costs that have made the business untenable. An employee confirmed over the phone to Boston.com that "everything" had become too expensive, including staples like eggs and necessary supplies. The current owners, the Taing family, took over the diner in 2001 and expanded its menu from just doughnuts to a full breakfast selection, which ingratiated the establishment with a broader customer base, from service workers to a diverse student population.
Historically, Twin Donuts was a hub for Allston's "hippie-punk" scene, said Catherine Taing, one of the owners, in an interview obtained by Eater Boston in 2023. However, as the neighborhood gentrified, rents soared, pushing out many of the regulars. The diner, known for its affordability and charm, struggled to keep pace with the changing demographics and economic realities.
The closure announcement has spurred a wave of nostalgia and expressions of loss from the Allston-Brighton community online. Local organization Allston Village Main Streets lamented on Instagram, "So sad to see a legacy business like Twin Donuts closing, they are a valued partner in the neighborhood and have been a great breakfast spot for the past 25 years." Moreover, the sentiment of losing a community staple was echoed by a Reddit user who stated, "Damn this is sad … more and more neighborhood spots going out like this zaps the area’s character," a statement obtained by Boston.com.
