Food , Family , and Furry Friends
THE SWEET SPOT
After working at Long Trail School as a German language teacher , school administrator , and Director of Development for over thirty years , Callo acquired the business and the proprietary recipes for Mrs . Murphy ’ s fantastic cake and yeast donuts from Bove in 2021 . She transitioned into her new role as the steward of Manchester ’ s beloved breakfast bakery with masterful finesse , and updated and streamlined the eatery ’ s interior spaces , menus , and product offerings to match the needs of their varied clientele .
According to Callo , she always knew that it was incredibly important to honor the impact that Mrs . Murphy ’ s Donuts had made on the local community . “ I ’ m an active board member of the Manchester Historical Society ,” says Callo . “ The Depot Street Historic District is home to many culturally-significant buildings , and I like to think that Willoughby ’ s Depot Eatery is located in a building that
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is historic for a completely different reason . Mrs . Murphy ’ s occupied a special place in the hearts of many of my most regular customers , so I went to great lengths to make them feel comfortable in the wake of the ownership transition .” Although Callo changed the baking schedule , began taking credit card payments , and moved the official opening time up from 5AM to 6AM , she still lets the old “ morning crew ” come in before Willoughby ’ s officially opens its doors to the public . “ The donuts don ’ t come out until we open at 6AM , but the old crew can sit around and have a cup of coffee like the old days ,” says Callo . “ It makes them feel at home , so I ’ m happy to do it .”
In order to simultaneously accommodate the wide-ranging tastes of her constantly-evolving customer base , Callo also broadened the menu selections . In addition to classic donuts and crullers , seasonal and specialty donuts such as cider donuts , maple donuts , “ hot chocolate donuts ,” and “ Fun-Fetti ” donuts have been added into the rotation . The maple syrup used in the maple donuts is sourced from local , Southern Vermont sugaring operations whenever possible , and Willoughby ’ s serves locally-baked artisan bread from Rupert Rising . The breakfast and lunch sandwich selections have also been significantly expanded to include soups , chili , and additional sandwiches . “ My niche is comfort food ,” says Callo . “ That goes from donuts to egg sandwiches and everything in between . My goal is to make food that is both delicious and affordable .”
Food , Family , and Furry Friends
The delectable breakfast and lunch sandwiches on Willoughby ’ s recently expanded menu aren ’ t just superbly flavorful – they also serve as