Wednesday, August 16, 2023

[EXCLUSIVE] New Donut Shop Shooting For Sweet Success in "Cursed" Old Fourth Ward Space

A Florida-based donut shop is coming to Atlanta.  Donnie's Donuts, currently with two locations in Florida, has secured a space in Old Fourth Ward for what will be its first Atlanta area location, according to a post from the shop on Facebook. 

The new Donnie's Donuts will be located in the street level retail of the Highland Walk apartment building along Highland Avenue.  Specifically, the new donut shop is coming to 701-5 North Highland, an endcap unit at the corner of Highland and Sampson Street.   

Husband and wife partners Donald and Patti Summerlin opened the first Donnie's Donuts in Daytona Beach in 2015.  The couple subsequently added locations in Ormond Beach and New Smyrna Beach. This past November, however, the couple opted to close their New Smyrna Beach outpost, saying that "Hurricane Ian and multiple other factors out of our control" contributed the "very difficult decision" to close.  

The 2,320 square foot Highland Walk space has been home to several restaurants over the past decade or so including P'Cheen,  Last Word, Cast Iron and most recently, Highland Bistro, which opened in early 2021 but closed this past February.  

Donnie's offers "vintage donuts," cake donuts served plain or rolled in cinnamon sugar or "modern donuts," handcrafted artisan donuts "carefully created to emulate traditional American Desserts or customizeable via their "Donut Bar" offering a host of frostings, creams, drizzles, fruits, chocolates, nuts and more!  The shop will also offer assorted coffees, teas, milks and juices.  

The company's tagline is:  "Vintage Donuts. Modern Charm."

The new Donnie's Donuts is basically between two other existing shops including locally owned Doughnut Dollies at 1002 Virginia Avenue in Virginia Highland and the recently opened The Salty, a fellow Florida-based business that opened August 4 at The Krog District (124 Krog Street), less than a half mile away. 

In video posted to the company's Facebook page Tuesday, co-owner Patti introduces the new location and indicates that she and husband Donald "Donnie" are both from Atlanta and that they hope to be open by Halloween.  

Have you been to Donnie's Donuts?  Who do you think offers the best donut in Atlanta?  If Donnie's Donuts expands, where else would you like to see them open?

Please share your thoughts below.  

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

I wish donnys all the luck in the world! They seem like a great couple and deserve a shot at succeeding. Being so close to not one but two other donut shops, I’m not sure that was the best decision. Donut shops are becoming like Banks and Starbucks And waffle house when I see a new one I’m like oh “another donut shop!. Isn’t that special?” There’s so many all offering their kind of gourmet experience that they all look and taste the same. Cake or fried with a bunch of sugar on top. I hope they succeed. Personally, I would cancel the lease and go somewhere in Brookhaven or Chamblee. There are really no good donut shops in those areas.

Anonymous said...

Another classic example of a broker fleecing small business owners. There is basically no foot traffic there other than people walking from their cars to their pre-planned destination. This place won’t make it long-term.

Anonymous said...

The only donut shop you need to know in GA is Sarah Donuts. Thank me later.

Anonymous said...

Dandy Donuts in Chamblee is great

Anonymous said...

Not sure donut shops can survive on "foot traffic" selling one donut at a time.

Anonymous said...

Oh boy - that does not seem like a good location.

Anon said...

So close to Highland Bakery?

Anonymous said...

Too bad all of the donuts shops in metro Atlanta are terrible. But I guess if you actually like Krispy cream, you might like them. Hopefully some day a real donut place opens up.

Anonymous said...

A solid 5/10 donut shop for sure...and that's on a good day!

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