Vice Coffee & Doughnuts closes in Farmingdale
Vice Doughnuts and Coffee in Farmingdale. Credit: Newsday/Marie Elena Martinez
Joseph and Gina O’Brien launched their Vice Doughnuts & Coffee truck in 2021 and gained quick success canvassing the Town of Oyster Bay. In 2024, they expanded to a full-service shop in their native Farmingdale. Earlier this week, the couple announced that the store would be closing at the end of the month. Fret not, fans; the Vice Truck will remain in business.
A post on their Instagram page explained: "The last few months have brought a season of change for Vice Doughnuts and Coffee. With change brings opportunity to refresh our focus and ultimately that led to our decision to pivot our operations solely to the Vice Truck." The closure of the brick-and-mortar location is "expected at the end of September." The statement goes on to emphasize that the core values of the brand "remain unchanged" and they will continue to serve the Farmingdale community in that capacity. Updates on truck location and specials will be posted to their social media channels; the truck can also be booked for private events.
An Army Reserve sergeant and firefighter in Engine 82 and Ladder 31 in the South Bronx, Joseph O'Brien always foresaw owning a coffee shop to "offset the work of being a firefighter." The comparatively relaxed gig of selling doughnuts and craft coffee felt like a good counterbalance and when the opportunity arose to strip a former ice cream truck into a roving coffee truck back in 2021, the Vice brand was born.
With a focus on ingredients that are 100% non-GMO, vegan and available in gluten-free versions, Vice dedicates itself to sourcing organically and locally whenever possible. Coffee comes from Southdown in Huntington.
The cake-based doughnuts come in traditional "naked," powdered, frosting-and-sprinkle-topped and cinnamon sugar varieties, as well as a slate of tempting options like a Biscoff-cookie crumb and speculoos cookie-topped doughnut with a scoop of cookie butter in the center. On regular rotation is a black and white doughnut (half vanilla glazed, half chocolate), a coconut almond chocolate frosted, a peanut butter and jelly drizzled goober doughnut and a Cinnamon Toast Crunch-inspired option topped with gluten-free rice crisps and vanilla-cinnamon sugar. Arrive early for your favorites.
The Vice Truck, 516-455-2670, thevicetruck.com.
A global freelancer who has checked her suitcase to raise her young daughter on her native Long Island, Marie Elena will always make time for good mezcal, even better tacos and killer conversation. Preferably, in a corner bar seat. She can be found on Instagram at @mariesworldeats.
