Today we’d like to introduce you to Darren Smith
Hi Darren, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I have lived in the Utah area from 1985 when I came here with my Air Force assignment. I have lived here, worked here and ran a business in the area from 2007. I have raised my children here, enjoy my grandkids here and love the outdoors here.
My wife Christine and I became part of a small church that I am the pastor of, and we enjoy coffee and Donuts each week on Sunday mornings before service starts. We were located 2 doors down from the business we purchased called Mountain Donuts. We started buying the Donuts from Mountain Donuts when our insurance agent who is located right next door to Mountain Donuts, sent us a $10 dollar gift card in the mail. So we went to the store, ordered donuts for Sunday Morning and started a friendship with the owners.
A few months into this I visited the store to grab a donut and chat with the owners. I was informed that they were looking to retire and wanted to get someone in the store to take it over so the shop would not close. A year of trying to secure the financing, and work out the details later, we closed on an agreement in Aug of 2024.
We enjoy the process of meeting people, laughing and interacting with the people who come in on a regular basis as well as the new clients who come through the door each day.
We have been working to expand our wedding and large venue catering of Gourmet Donuts for these events. We also are expanding the daily delivery option to businesses who have donuts for both their employees as well as for their customers.
We have now taken on the process of cooking on site not only the cake donuts we are so well known for, but also for a new process of a yeast raised donut that people are loving as well. We started to make a European Apple Fritter on Fridays and Saturdays. We always have them for special orders as well.
We love to be part of community events as well that we are working on expanding.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No we have ran into many issues as does any small business. The economy has been an issue with sales and traffic in the store over the last few months. We also took over a store that we were told was doing more in sales than we have seen even in the first month. So learning how to cut the cost of goods without loosing the greatness of our product has been a big part of getting through this time.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We are a mom and pop retail Bakery shop. We are local to the area only. this brand has been around for only 7 years but in this time the shop has earned the number one donut for the Northern Utah area award with the Standard Examiner.
We have also earned the number six position for the USA 2024 Readers Choice Award, in the nation.
Most of the other top 10 stores were multi locations, and multi product stores or shops. We are exclusively a Donut Shop only.
We have a design your own style, that offers over 6000 ways to build your Donut. Or you can chose to get ones that are our most requested Donuts. We do specialty Fruit Donuts and Parfaits while Fruit is locally in season.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
We believe that if you build a great produce (Donuts) and treat people fairly and offer them a great deal you build not only clients, but friends. Having a community focused shop allows us to do this best.
Great quality Donuts at a fair price, while we are part of our community is our most important focus.
Pricing:
- Simple Icing Dozen 18.99
- Gourmet Topping Dozen 24.99
- Half and Half (50/50) 21.99
- Simple Donut 1.25
- Gourmet Donut 2.75
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.MountainDonuts.com
- Facebook: Mountain Donuts
