Shenandoah, IA – Shenandoah will lose another cherished local business as the Donut Stop announces its closure at the end of the year.
The owners revealed Wednesday that the beloved Shen’s Donut shop will shut its doors on December 31. In a statement posted on the store’s Facebook page, the owners explained that the decision to close was not due to financial struggles. Instead, they cited a desire for more space to accommodate growth. However, they have decided that prioritizing their family is more important at this time. “Our family has made significant sacrifices,” the statement reads. “After six years, if expansion isn’t feasible, it’s time for us to focus on our children and family and close this chapter of our careers.”
Cole and Heather Thornton, who bought the Donut Stop from Randy Rodgers in June 2018, reopened the shop in October of the same year. Cole Thornton shared that the closure of the Donut Stop after 38 years initially caught their attention. “We were at home one night when Heather saw the news about the closure,” Cole Thornton recalled. “It was disappointing to think it would close down. Heather suggested we contact our real estate agent, Rhonda Byers, to see if the owner, Randy Rodgers, might be interested in selling. We made the call the next day.”
The Donut Stop, originally located at 500 West Sheridan Avenue, later moved to 606 West Sheridan Avenue. To ensure high-quality doughnuts during its final weeks and manage inventory, the shop will offer walk-in service only starting Thursday and will not accept new preorders. Existing orders will still be fulfilled.