Waynesburg couple slinging hot mini doughnuts
Trista Thurston/Observer-Reporter
The Dapper Doughnut Waynesburg owners Kirsten and Tom Rohanna with their cart, which shares space with Travel Savers at 230 Bill George Drive near Waynesburg.
Trista Thurston/Observer-Reporter
Miniature doughnuts, after a bath in hot oil, fall onto a tray and await any number of toppings.
Dapper Doughnut 5
Trista Thurston/Observer-Reporter
Trista Thurston/Observer-Reporter
Miniature doughnuts make their way through hot oil with the supervision of The Dapper Doughnuts Waynesburg owner Tom Rohanna.
Trista Thurston/Observer-Reporter
The Dapper Doughnut
Trista Thurston/Observer-Reporter
The Dapper Doughnut shares space with Travel Savers at 230 Bill George Drive outside Waynesburg.
WAYNESBURG – Hot, mini doughnuts made fresh to order.
That’s how Tom and Kirsten Rohanna sum up The Dapper Doughnut, their shop that shares space with Travel Savers at 230 Bill George Drive near Waynesburg. Both serve as owner-operators of the business.
The store has been open about a month, but the couple celebrated their grand opening Sept. 29 with free samples and smiles. So far, business has been good. In fact, it’s been better than Tom expected. It’s been so good they plan to expand their hours to be open seven days a week starting today.
Trista Thurston/Observer-Reporter
Trista Thurston/Observer-Reporter
The Dapper Doughnut Waynesburg owner Tom Rohanna tops hot mini doughnuts for a waiting customer.
Kirsten admits that the doughnuts were her husband’s idea and that she was initially reluctant. Though he had experience in food service, she had none. In fact, she wasn’t even a big fan of the sweet treat.
But now, dreams of sugar-covered dough balls fill her waking and sleeping thoughts. They’re addictive.
“Honestly, when he first told me he wanted to franchise this business, I thought he was crazy,” Kirsten said. “Now, I have dreams of making doughnuts. It’s exhausting, but it’s so much fun.”
A Waynesburg native and Waynesburg University graduate, Tom was looking for something to bring to his hometown.
“Something that we don’t have,” he said. “I really wanted to open something that would go with coffee, because I like coffee, and I know we need a nice coffee shop.”
Doughnuts come out piping hot from a contraption that flips the pastries through hot oil, at which point they await any number of delicious toppings. Popular selections include cinnamon sugar, blueberry lemon and Nutella dream. Flavors can rotate seasonally. Doughnuts can be blended into ice cream for milkshakes or dipped in chocolate for doughnut truffles.
Trista Thurston/Observer-Reporter
Trista Thurston/Observer-Reporter
The Dapper Doughnut Waynesburg owner Tom Rohanna tops hot mini doughnuts with chocolate.
“It’s so hard to choose,” Kirsten said of her favorite flavor. “It depends on the day.”
Tom found the business while doing some research and was impressed by their model and branding. He loves the creativity and flexibility, as owners are encouraged to create their own topping flavors.
Franchise executives initially encouraged the couple to open a store in nearby Morgantown, W.Va., but Tom was insistent on Greene County.
They struggled to select a place at first, but since Tom’s mother owns the building they now occupy, it was a natural fit. People are captivated by the smell as they come to drop off a package. The small treats appeal to both children and adults alike and are at the perfect price point for a special occasion or an impulse buy. A half dozen is just $4.99.
The two have been surprised by the response, especially on the weekends and with lots of excitement building on social media. Even though Kirsten was initially hesitant, she’s now fallen in love with the art of making mini doughnuts.
“He knows what risks to take,” she said of her husband.
Now, they would love to expand their catering and fundraising efforts, providing desserts for parties and weddings.
The Dapper Doughnut franchise has been spreading across the country since 2015, with locations in just over a dozen states. Starting today, the doughnut shop will be open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Dapper Doughnut Waynesburg can also provide catering, both on-site and for pickup, for Greene County and Washington. For more information on the Waynesburg shop, go to their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/thedapperdoughnutwaynesburg or call 724-998-3878.