OH Donuts to Open Shop Downtown
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The hole in the donut scene downtown will be filled on Tuesday when OH Donut opens its second location.
The new shop at 112 W. Commerce St. will offer the same unique delicacies as the main location in Boardman. OH Donut is owned by Bergen Giordani and her daughter, Morgen Chretien, who also own the One Hot Cookie chain.
They operated their original One Hot Cookie store at the at the site of the new donut shop for almost eight years, closing it last year because of the ongoing construction of the Phelps Street pedestrian walkway in front of it, and the pandemic.
Chretien said they decided to reopen it as an OH Donut to fill a void in the area.
Downtown has been without a donut shop since Plaza Donuts closed last year. Joe Maxx Coffee, another downtown staple that offered pastries, cookies and sandwiches, also closed last year, another casualty of the pandemic.
“We’re excited to be part of downtown again,” Chretien said, noting that the shop is also is within walking distance of Youngstown State University.
OH Donut sells cinnamon rolls, made-to-order breakfast sandwiches and donuts, all made fresh daily. The shelves will be stocked with 18 types of cake donuts with OH Donut‘s original and unique toppings, including time-tested favorites such as Brown Butter Blueberry, Peanut Butter Cup, Fruity Pebbles, Cinnamon Toast Crunch and S’moreos. Another six seasonal creations will be rotated throughout the year.
The new shop will offer coffee exclusively by Branch Street Roasters of Boardman. “It’s the best of the best,” Giordani said.
Physically, the shop was in good condition, but it was given a fresh coat of paint and some cosmetic upgrades. A few small tables and chairs will be set up inside next to the picture window. “It’s a good place for people watching,” said Giordani.
A distinctive feature of the shop is the series of quotations painted on the walls.
“We just love quotes, things that get us through the day in our crazy lives, and we said, ‘Let’s just put them all over the walls,’ ” Chretien said. “There are lines from movies and songs, and from pop culture, inspirational quotes and things that we say. Everything there means something to one of us.”
A chalkboard will be available for guests to add their own wisdom.
“It’s something fun and different,” Giordani said. “At our Boardman location, we’re fortunate in that we share space with Spruce Décor and they make our space look beautiful every day. We wanted [the new shop] to have its own signature look and be different but still have a personal and family touch.”
The owners also hope to utilize the large deck in front of the shop, which is part of the Phelps Street walkway. They hope to place tables and chairs there for breakfast or lunch diners.
“We’ve also talked about doing yoga classes and dog events there,” Chretien said. “It has a lot of potential.”
OH Donut will be open Tuesday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Pictured at top: OH Donut will stock 18 types of cake donuts at its 112 W. Commerce St. location downtown.
Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
