Duck Donuts will get a second Columbus location before the year is out. The popular North Carolina-based donut shop debuted in Ohio with a Westerville location last December, and franchisees Brad Hobbs and partners are ready to double up with a Dublin location.
Hobbs and his business partners Darren Shutler, Krista Sparks and Kevin Burns opened the first local franchise in Westerville, after family members of Hobbs came back from their Outer Banks vacation with rave reviews. Hearing about the product and the adoration it inspired, the group brought it north to Ohio, enlisting the help of family in Westerville to run it.
It’s a new kind of endeavor for Hobbs, who is responsible for Columbus originals Olde Towne Tavern, Corner Stone Craft Beer & Wine, The Walrus, and the work-in-progress Pecan Penny’s.
“It was definitely something that we had talked about, because we live Downtown and we like to revitalize old buildings and develop new concepts, and this is a franchise in the suburbs,” Hobbs said. “But, I think with the right brand it is a reflection of us, because we do believe in the product.”
The products are made-to-order build-your-own donuts. Guests start with a vanilla cake donut; pick one of the 10 “coatings;” add toppings, like chopped peanuts, shredded coconut or bacon; and finish it off with a drizzle of hot fudge, marshmallow, salted caramel, raspberry or blackberry.
With the Dublin location, Hobbs said he’s aiming to serve the children and families of the area. The space, occupying 2,400 square feet on Sawmill Road, is double the size of the Westerville location, and the plan is to offer enough banquette seating for 15 to 25 people.
“Compared to the Westerville location, there’s not that big business, no Chase Bank or giant shopping center. We’ll have a little less business traffic,” Hobbs said, “but we’ll have a lot more families and children, and our square footage will cater to that.”
It comes with a second kitchen space as well, offering up enough room to cater for businesses, weddings and other events, and to train new Duck Donuts employees.
Hobbs and partners broke ground on the new space, located at 7717 Sawmill Rd., last week. Being a franchise, the legwork of developing a brand, a menu, a logo and website is out of the way, and Hobbs is looking forward to opening before the first of the new year.
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For more information, visit duckdonuts.com.