Jim Duffey and Nick Ault with their Duffeyrolls pushcart on the 16th Street Mall.

Our story · since 1986

How two pushcarts became Duffeyrolls

Jim Duffey and Nick Ault started Duffeyrolls in 1986, selling cinnamon rolls from two pushcarts on Denver's 16th Street Mall, and opened their first bakery six months later. Nick has owned and led the company since 1987.

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The Duffeyroll story

How did Duffeyrolls begin?

To paraphrase Messrs, Garcia, Lesh, and Weir, “What a long great trip it’s been” The Duffeyroll is a Colorado grown, community based company co-founded by Jim Duffey (an oilman) and Nick Ault (a social chemist – aka bartender) in 1986. Our unique mouthwatering cinnamon roll recipe was introduced via two pushcarts on the 16th Street Mall in Downtown Denver. After establishing a fast growing number of Duffeyroll connoisseurs greeting morning pedestrian traffic, we opened the original Duffey’s Bakery six months later in November of 1986. Nick assumed sole ownership of the company in 1987. Duffeyrolls have since become a treasured Colorado tradition and taste adventure.

We now serve fresh baked Duffeyrolls (cinnamon – savory – cobbler) at our three popular neighborhood gathering spots in Denver where the smiles of generations of “Duffeyroller” family and friends are displayed through our famous wall to wall picture galleries. Folks gather to enjoy our tasty signature breakfast and lunch menu, warm, friendly vibe, and sunny outdoor patios. Duffeys also provides local delivery & catering venues and a nationwide mail order service – featuring Bake at Home Duffeyroll Pans!

We humbly appreciate and thank our ever-growing family of friends for your loyalty and ongoing support of our company where we pride ourselves on helping navigate a weather-filled fast paced world by providing rays of sunshine through Duffey’s timeless mission statement: “To create memorably delicious eats and experiences that are the talk of the town.”

The most excellent adventure continues…!

Nick

Where did the Duffeyroll poem come from?

Nick wrote it in 1987, a year after the pushcarts, and signed it Nicolai.

Once upon a time in Denver
An Oilman was drinking
Wondering if his ship
would ever start sinking
The time was Spring but prosperity
seemed a far away thing.
Jim Duffey looked up to order another
Not knowing Nicolai the bartender
Would soon be his brother
Soon after Jim and Nicolai formed a team
Intent on pursuing the American Dream
The recipe was Jim’s and the flavor was in,
But the odds were not good, or so it did seem
The pushcarts were made and the plan was laid
Introduce Denver to the Duffeyroll
And they’d have it made in the shade
Their cinnamon roll was the best
It was said with no jest
At last they passed, passed their first test
Jim and Nicolai’s energy did not wilt,
Thus their first bakery was finally built
And now here they are having come so far
Wondering if you have tasted their star.

Nicolai – 1987

What's the Duffeyrolls timeline?

40 years, from two pushcarts to three neighborhood cafés.

1986Jim Duffey, an oilman, and Nick Ault, a bartender ("a social chemist"), launch Duffeyrolls with two pushcarts on the 16th Street Mall
Nov 1986The first Duffey's Bakery opens
1987Nick Ault becomes sole owner
2006The Pearl Street café opens at Louisiana and Pearl
2014303 Magazine names Duffeyrolls Denver's best cinnamon roll, the first of several years with the title
2025Nick Ault receives the Colorado Restaurant Association's Lifetime Achievement Award and is inducted into the Colorado Foodservice Hall of Fame
202640 years of Duffeyrolls

Cool story: “Doughboy” and “Duffey”

Who created Duffey, the Duffeyrolls mascot?

Duffey was created by Carl Strobe, the creator of the Pillsbury Doughboy.

Duffey’s Cool Stuff mention includes the man behind the creation of our beloved – “Duffey” Icon.

Carl Strobe lived a remarkable life. At eighteen - Carl was recognized by the Museum of Modern Art with the Designer of the Year Award at the first International Good Design Show. Carl was known for his creativity, ability to think out of the proverbial box, and behind the scenes marketing genius for a broad spectrum of iconic Worldwide brands and concepts. His accomplishments range from the original Pontiac Widetrack campaign to the Pillsbury Doughboy; from Dow’s Saran Wrap to Dupont’s Tyvek; and was under contract with the Secretary of the Air Force where he participated in the development of the Air Force Test Pilot School and the Astronaut program in the 1960’s.

For over twenty years – Carl Strobe coordinated the efforts of Pillsbury’s advertising agencies, developed their in-house media department, put them in the publishing business, designed and developed all their packaging, and concepted all their new products.

I had the honor and privilege of being introduced to Carl Strobe and his lovely wife Lynne in 2002. An unexpected invitation evolved to fly to Roswell, Georgia to meet the creator of the Pillsbury Doughboy and provide some samples of Denver’s legendary Duffeyrolls. That weekend visit launched a treasured friendship with one of the most kind, generous and talented people I have ever known. Carl possessed a whimsical, childlike purity in sharing stories and insights about the world around us.

When we met - Carl was retired but nurturing his creative side by being the resident artist for the Atlanta Zoo. After sharing my desire for a Duffeyroll “mascot” – Carl engaged and offered to create one.

The result was of course – spot on.

Our icon “Duffey” represents the gregarious, adventurous smile evoking side of the Duffeyroll community and culture.

Looking up at the stars at night it’s hard not to think of Carl as one of the stars shooting across with a unique, mesmerizing and “familiar twinkle.”

Questions about Duffeyrolls' story

Who founded Duffeyrolls?

Jim Duffey and Nick Ault founded Duffeyrolls in 1986. Nick has owned and led the company since 1987.

When and where did Duffeyrolls start?

Duffeyrolls started in 1986, with two pushcarts on Denver's 16th Street Mall. The first bakery opened six months later.

Who is the Duffey mascot?

Duffey is the Duffeyrolls mascot, the cinnamon-roll character on our logo, signs and boxes, created by Carl Strobe, the creator of the Pillsbury Doughboy. Keep an eye out for him across the site.

Come taste 40 years of Duffeyrolls

Three neighborhood cafés, open every day.

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