The much anticipated arrival of the Winston-Salem, N.C.-based chain, whose famous doughnuts have become etched into American popular culture, will take place in late summer or early fall in Issaquah with the opening of the first Krispy Kreme franchise in the state.

As many as six sites in the Seattle area are in various stages of either lease negotiation or permit approval, said Gerard Centioli, the Seattle native who owns the Krispy Kreme franchise rights to the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia.

Centioli would only confirm one of the potential sites: East Lake Sammamish Center in Issaquah.

Krispy Kreme Donut Corp's. prototype calls for a 4,000-square-foot building with a drive-through window.

However, drive-throughs often require conditional use permits which could add to the time it takes to get buildings approved by the local municipalities.

``We are ready to do it as soon as we can,'' Centioli said. ``Optimistically I would say summer, realistically I would say fall. But that's not under my control.''

Krispy Kreme is not your typical neighborhood doughnut shop. Each shop's melt-in-your-mouth doughnuts are made fresh in front of customers. Each franchise will employ about 100 people, Centioli said.

Krispy Kreme opened its first store in 1937. Today, the company has 170 stores.

Centioli's Seattle-based Kreme Works U.S.A. owns the franchise rights in Washington, Oregon, Alaska and Hawaii. Centioli plans to open 23 Krispy Kreme stores in the next five years under Kreme Works U.S.A. including 10 in Washington.

The Canadian branch of the company Kreme Works Canada, based in Vancouver, British Columbia, is expected to open seven shops.

Centioli is president and chief executive officer of Chicago-based Icon LLC, the parent company of both Kreme Works outfits.

Centioli, an experienced and noted restaurateur, has worked in the restaurant business his entire life. He is a senior partner in Lettuce Entertain You, a restaurant concept incubator which has spawned 35 concepts including Maggiano's Little Italy; self-service bakery, Corner Bakery; pan-Asian noodle concept Big Bowl; and American steak and chop house, Wildfire.

He grew up working in his father's Seattle Kentucky Fried Chicken, the seventh KFC franchise to be granted.

``Neither the Seattle market nor quick service restaurants are new for me,'' he said.

Krispy Kreme held its initial public offering of stock last April. The stock which, underwent a 2-for-1 split in March, was up a $1.46 to $43.85 per share at yesterday's close on the Nasdaq stock market.