Jack’s Donuts

Writer  /  Heather Chastain

Living in Avon got a little sweeter this past September. When Jack’s Donuts opened September 4, people came out in droves.

“Opening day, the line wrapped throughout the entire store, out the door and down the side walk,” said manager Tim Roberts. The store sold out of donuts that day, but that didn’t stop Roberts and his business partner Spencer King from standing outside the shop, greeting their new customers and asking them to come back the next day.

In their first three weeks of business, they sold out five times – once was a weekday. Roberts said people commonly ask, “Why can’t you to just go back there and make some more?”

It turns out that’s easier said than done. Each Jack’s Donut is made by hand which is why no two donuts are exactly the same. In fact, that was one of the tenants the original Jack of Jack’s Donuts required. “Jack said he didn’t want all the donuts to look alike,” said Roberts.

There are no machines producing the pastries. The chefs come in at 9 p.m. to begin making donuts for the next day. The chefs finish at 6 a.m. “To make 250 yeast donuts takes about 45 minutes,” said Roberts.

During the week, their chefs are making 1,400-1,500 donuts a day. On the weekends, it’s between 3,000-4,000. See the sidebar to learn more about the donut making process.

Jack’s Donuts doesn’t do second day donuts, except for the cake donuts. “We always donate them at the end of the day. We go to the local police and fire departments, hit up local businesses and even give them to the UAW,” said Roberts.

Roberts and King chose to open a franchise in Avon because this is where they have roots. “We grew up on the west side. We went to Ritter. This is home,” said King.

The company’s CEO is a third generation “Jack” and originally asked them to open a franchise in Speedway. “We didn’t want to compete with Long’s,” laughed Roberts. “The people in Avon have been really good to us! And we’re happy to be here,” he added.

Jack’s Donuts began in 1961 in Greencastle. Jack is Robert’s father-in-law. “My wife worked there as a kid. The five other siblings did too,” said Roberts. The first franchise of Jack’s Donuts began in Fishers in 2013. When Jack’s Donuts was named the #1 Donut Shop in NUVO, Fishers business doubled. “Once you beat Long’s, everyone says, ‘Whoa, that’s something,’” said Roberts.

Jack’s Donuts is located at 8100 E. US Highway 36 in the Pizza King shopping center. Jack’s is open 5 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 5 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday.