Spudnut Shop

My dad owned a Spudnut Shop in the early 1960s. For the uninitiated, a Spudnut is a doughnut made with potato flour. They were apparently very popular, and many people STILL tell me they were their favorite doughnut.

Anyway, the "time to make the doughnuts" schedule got to him, and he closed down. I was about 2 or 3, so never got to try one. I know there are still a few left around the country. I have no idea whether or not they're affiliated with the franchise my dad was a part of (I assume they are), or if they're any good. But, if anyone out there has ever tried one, I'd love to hear about it.

I heard of someone actually opening a Spudnut Museum a few years ago. I sent her copies of a few items I had. I can no longer find her, or any reference to the museum.

As I recall, there was a Spudnut in Knoxville in the 50's. I have a very vague memory of them, but I seem to recall they were very good.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

A few years ago there was still a Spudnut Shop in Magnolia, AR, which had been there for years and years. Not sure if its still there or not. Could not find any phone number for it in a website yellow & white pages search. However, a Google search for the word "Spudnut" produces page after page of entries, some of which are recipes for spudnuts, some of which are ads for various current wholesale & retail Spudnut shops (think there were a number in California and Ohio), some of which are recollections of old Spudnut Shops, AND BE FOREWARNED - some of which are porno or bordering on porno websites. Until recently I had relatives in the Magnolia area who always loved the Spudnuts, thought they were the absolute best of all doughnuts, but, to be honest, I never really cared that much for them.

Ohmigod!! Spudnuts are for real?!?!?!?!

I say this because when I was in this funky store in North Beach, SF, CA, called Quantity Postcards, and I came across a beautiful postcard of a glazed donut, pure perfection in its simplicity, just one lone one sitting on a table. It said Spudnuts on the front, and the back said the card could be used for a discount. Of course I bought it, thinking that it was some joke, or fluke. I really just loved the picture, and I still have it hanging in my cube (to remind me of the important things in life! )

For a while I had it hanging outside my cube, just below my name. Apropos, no? Anyway, you would not believe the "complaints" I got about it. How it made people hungry, it made them want to go off their diets, blah blah blah. I got so tired of the whining I moved it inside. Now people ask me where my donut went. Go figure.

Glad to know I must have a little bit of memorabilia! Maybe I will try to scan it and post it for all to enjoy!

Meowzart

Spudnuts are hilarious until you eat one, and it shuts you up real quick. There are a few around Los Angeles. There is one in Northridge on Reseda Blvd. There is one on Venice Blvd (and I think Sawtelle) right near Tito's Tacos, Howard's Bacon and Avocado, Johnny's French Dip Pastrami and Versailles. What a great neighborhood.

Thanks for your input. I'll definitely keep it in mind should I find myself in LA or SF, which is always possible. It's probably less likely that I'll be in Magnolia, AR.

SPUDNUT DONUTS ARE THE BEST

I OWN A SPUDNUT SHOP IN BEREA, OHIO AND WE STILL MAKE THEM THE ORIGINAL WAY. I HAVE INFO ON THE SPUDNUT MUSEUM. IT IS IN LAFFEYTE,IND.,IF YOU WANT EMAIL ME AND I CAN GIVE YOU MORE INFO. WE SUPPLIED 10 DOZEN OF OUR SPUDNUT DONUTS FOR THE MUSEUM GRAND OPENING 2 YEARS AGO,EVERYBODY REALLY LOVED THEM. WELL GOT TO GO MAKE THE DOUGHNUTS.

RICK

Man, spudnuts and any coffee from central coffee roasters is killer! ask any of my friends. Somehow. We've got a Spudnuts in Charlottesville Va and it's near to impossible to get those things after 11:00 am. It's like breakfast at a fast food joint, it's over. they're closed.
I'm telling anyone, even if it's an hours drive, do yourself right and go find some spudnuts!

Spudnuts had a store in Carbondale, Illinois (the home of Southern Illinois University) in the mid 60's. We used to go there after the bars closed down and scarf down entire trays of donuts as they came out of the ovens. In our condition, anything after 1:00am tasted great.

Oh my God! I had no idea Spudnuts was still around, or even that it was a franchise operation. We used to have one in Johnstown, PA, but it has been closed at least 40 years. I will have to stop in Charlottesville on our next trip South.

Wish we had a Spudnuts, (or any other "real" donut) shop here in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. Krispy kreme has moved in and I think they're terrible. Ok, they're good if they're hot out of the oil, but thats it! One DD left that I know of. A new High End donut and espresso in the burbs. Where are they? Why no Winchells, Dunkin, Spudnuts, Bosa or any other donut n' coffee places? Is the only thing you can get a scone? (what is a scone anyway? I never had one that wasn't dry!)

In Salt Lake City spudnuts were an institution when I was growing up in the 50's, 60's. There would be boys that would go door to door each week selling a dozen spudnuts in a waxy bag with the Spudnut King on the front. We would always plead and beg until mom would buy some. Spudnuts had all but up and disappeared from the scene for the last 30 years. With the recent influx and popularity of Krispy Kremes, there are now two new donut frachises in the area selling spudnuts, Tommie's and Tasty's. They are a nice change, light and airy.

There was one in Albuquerque in the 1950s.

quote:

Originally posted by Phil J.

My dad owned a Spudnut Shop in the early 1960s. For the uninitiated, a Spudnut is a doughnut made with potato flour. They were apparently very popular, and many people STILL tell me they were their favorite doughnut.

Anyway, the "time to make the doughnuts" schedule got to him, and he closed down. I was about 2 or 3, so never got to try one. I know there are still a few left around the country. I have no idea whether or not they're affiliated with the franchise my dad was a part of (I assume they are), or if they're any good. But, if anyone out there has ever tried one, I'd love to hear about it.

I heard of someone actually opening a Spudnut Museum a few years ago. I sent her copies of a few items I had. I can no longer find her, or any reference to the museum. Too bad -- I was sure she'd make millions.

What fun to see the information about Spudnuts. Our favorite time to visit the Spudnut Shop in Dodge City, KS, in the early 1960's was between morning classes -- it was located across the street a block from the high school. Want to find out more about the museum in Indiana. Did find a site that indicates they began in Washington? Does anyone know if that claim is correct?

Because some yahoo engineers from Texas challenged the assertion that ours was one of two Spudnut Shops in the country, and that the crystal meth of carb fixes had originated here, I conducted a Google search and like another messenger on this board, discovered reams and volumes about our beloved Spudnut. I hate to own up to engineers being right in the first place, but they were.

True that the recipe originated in Richfield, Washington?

True that the first "Spudnut Shop" was opened by a vacuum cleaner salesman in Salt Lake City?

I think the Spudnut Shop in Magnolia is still open; we're 35 miles away in El Dorado, Arkansas.

Is there really a museum somewhere in Indiana?

SORRY ABOUT JUST SENDING A BUT THIS SUBJECT DOES BRING A SMILE AFTER ALL THESE YEARS . CHICAGO IN THE LATE 50S - 60S. SO IS THERE OR ARE THERE SPUDNUT SHOPS AND WERE ARE THEY BECAUSE AS FAR AS I CAN DETERMINE THEY`RE NOT A FRANCHISE ...... ???????

Where exactly is the Spudnut Shop in Berea,Ohio? Just saw this thread and hope I can get this info. I'm in Indiana in the summers and I intend to visit the museum next chance. I grew up a bicycle ride away from a Spudnut shop and would love to sink my teeth into one of those wonderful donuts again.

I think SFJ meant Richland, Washington. The Spudnut shop here is still going strong. On their web page though it says it was established in 1948 as a franchise, which would argue that the recipe was not originated here. Anyway, the web page is at http://www.richland.tri-cityshopping.com/spudnuts/ . The link for this discussion appeared an the "Alumni Sandstorm" - a mailing list for Richland High alums, so I'm sure someone with 1000% more knowledge about the history of the Spudnut than I will reply.

I was raised as a "Spudnut Junkie" because it was my fathers favorite sweet!! Even after he Retired, he would go to the Spudnut Shop for Coffee and a Spudnut amost every morning they were open.When I visited my parents, it was a Known that he and I would to the Spudnut Shop. It is still operating in the same spot in Uptown Richland that it has been since I can remember. (Well, since the Uptown Shopping Center was created in the 50s) Anyway, every time I visit Richland after my parents both passed away I still go to the Spudnut Shop to keep up the "Tradition". Most times I am there I meet other Classmates (Richland Bombers)from Richland (Columbia) High School keeping up their Traditions!!
BigGus
Yuma, AZ

I saw a Spudnut store in Grand Junction, Colorado in the late 1980s. I couldn't believe it! Wow and what a great sign. I took an unreal photo of it and have had it framed and in my kitchen ever since. I don't think the place is still there, but I get a lot of comments on my art on the wall.

- Prairie Mary, Ft. Collins, CO

I just had 2 cinnimon spudnuts this morning at the Spudnut Shop in Richland WA (Uptown Shopping Center). I don't think the are/were a franchise. I lived in Auburn WA in the 50's and the Spudnut Man in a truck came right after the milk man delivered milk. Spudnuts beat out donuts (BARF) any day.

Never having had the pleasure, what is different (taste/texture) about a spudnut from a regular donut?

quote:

Originally posted by berndog

Never having had the pleasure, what is different (taste/texture) about a spudnut from a regular donut?

Unfortunately, as I've lamented elsewhere on this site, I've never tasted one. So, I'll defer to somebody else for the particulars. I will mention, though, that they're made with potato flour (hence, SPUDnuts). I'm told that, if prepared properly, the potato flour results in a lighter doughnut.

You are all in luck! The e-mail for the Spudnuts Museum is SpudnutsMuseum@aol.com. Yes, the museum is still in "operation" and the exhibits are growing daily....be assured that the story of Spudnuts and the Pelton brothers will never die.

This message is coming to you from the Spudnuts Museum - America's Finest Food Confection Collection! Part of the mission of the Museum is to provide educational programs regarding this historically significant and delectable confection - an American original, loved by many but understood by few!

In that regard, the Spudnuts chain was started by Al and Bob Pelton of Salt Lake City, Utah. In 1940, they began experimenting to find a recipe for a doughnut that was not heavy or greasy and was easy to digest. After throwing away many batches of less-than-thrilling products, they struck on winning formula that used mashed potatoes. When they later invented a dry Spudnut mix, the sky was the limit! By mid-1948, there were more than 200 stores in more than 30 states. A franchise, which included equipment and floor plans, cost $1,750 (in cities with a population under 10,000, a bit more for those in larger cities).

While (to the best of our knowledge) the Pelton Spudnut Corporation no longer exists, 37 Spudnut stores continue to operate across the U.S. These operations have had to tweak the original recipe a bit because the Pelton's dry Spudnut mix is no longer available. And, many of the remaining, dedicated Spudnut gastronomes have done a fine job! So, include a Spudnut shop stop in your vacation travel plans.

More Spudnuts information soon!

I am also from Richland Gus. Class of 63. Those Spunuts are the best. They make raised and cake called spuddies. Used to stop for two warm spuddies and a coke in the mornings when delivering papers. Still go there when I'm in town. Is that Gus OR George?

There was a Spudnut Donut shop just off the circle in Shelbyville IN when I was growing up back in the 60s and 70s. My dad owned a business down the block from it and had coffee and donuts there every morning with his friends and other business owners. I remember going downtown and having lunch with him there on Saturdays (they made soups and sandwiches also). I didn't know there was more than one of these places until today. I also didn't realize that potato flour was used; I should have, considering the name. Believe it or not, I thought the name was a reference to their shape maybe resembling a sputnik satellite. Anyway, the shop finaly closed in the late 70s or early 80s. They were one of my favorite memories growing up.

quote:

Originally posted by musicwife

You are all in luck! The e-mail for the Spudnuts Museum is SpudnutsMuseum@aol.com. Yes, the museum is still in "operation" and the exhibits are growing daily....be assured that the story of Spudnuts and the Pelton brothers will never die.

Great. So, is the museum on line, or an in-person museum? You're probably the person to whom I sent a photocopied Spudnut newsletter a couple of years ago. It was from the early 1960s, and had a photo of my dad.

One of these days, I'll taste one!

I grew up in Richland WA; the Uptown Spudnut shop started in early 50s if not late 40s (I think the same time that Uptown was built) and has been going all this time. My first date was with my 7th grade girl friend and we shared a Spudnut Ala Mode after a Chief Joseph vs Carmichael football game in 1951; there is nothing in the world like a Spudnut. A fresh off the conveyer KK will taste really good, but it is NOT a Spudnut.

quote:

Originally posted by Manoa

I grew up in Richland WA; the Uptown Spudnut shop started in early 50s if not late 40s (I think the same time that Uptown was built) and has been going all this time. My first date was with my 7th grade girl friend and we shared a Spudnut Ala Mode after a Chief Joseph vs Carmichael football game in 1951; there is nothing in the world like a Spudnut. A fresh off the conveyer KK will taste really good, but it is NOT a Spudnut.

You guys are killing me. I need to try one.

What was a Spudnut ala mode? A doughnut with ice cream?! I'd have no complaints about that, certainly, but it sounds unusual.

What happened to the 7th grade girlfriend? She sounded like a keeper -- except for the sharing part.

I thought you fellow SPUDNUT fans would enjoy this - if you end up in the northwest, remember this place

http://www.richland.tri-cityshopping.com/spudnuts/

Here's another posting, same place, Richland WA Spudnut Shop - this one even advertises the ala mode in the window.

http://allgallery.tripod.com/0000s/Spudnut.html

Santa Barbara has two Spudnuts and they seem to be pretty popular.

quote:

Originally posted by juno

Man, spudnuts and any coffee from central coffee roasters is killer! ask any of my friends. Somehow. We've got a Spudnuts in Charlottesville Va and it's near to impossible to get those things after 11:00 am. It's like breakfast at a fast food joint, it's over. they're closed.
I'm telling anyone, even if it's an hours drive, do yourself right and go find some spudnuts!

Juno! I live in Scottsville!

Lynne (aka Route 11)

hello, happen to stumble on to your web site and could`nt believe the spudnut LIVES.... I`D ALWAYS LOVE THEM , CHGO. AND NOW LIVING IN S.C. AND NOTHING WOULD TICKLE MY TASTE BUDS MORE THAN TO HAVE A SPUDNUT (CHOCOLATE) AND SOME COFFEE SECOND THOUGHT MAYBE TWO OR THREE. QUESTION IS WHERE, IS THERE ONE IN S.C. , N.C. OR GEORGIA ???????? LOVE TO HEAR BACK AND OR IN THE CHGO AREA, STILL GET UP THERE ONCE IN A WHILE. GEOBELFAIR

Originally posted by a noid

Oh my God! I had no idea Spudnuts was still around, or even that it was a franchise operation. We used to have one in Johnstown, PA, but it has been closed at least 40 years. I will have to stop in Charlottesville on our next trip South. WHERE IS FRANCHISE HEADQUARTERS LOCATED ??????

quote:

Originally posted by SPUDDIE

SPUDNUT DONUTS ARE THE BEST

I OWN A SPUDNUT SHOP IN BEREA, OHIO AND WE STILL MAKE THEM THE ORIGINAL WAY. I HAVE INFO ON THE SPUDNUT MUSEUM. IT IS IN LAFFEYTE,IND.,IF YOU WANT EMAIL ME AND I CAN GIVE YOU MORE INFO. WE SUPPLIED 10 DOZEN OF OUR SPUDNUT DONUTS FOR THE MUSEUM GRAND OPENING 2 YEARS AGO,EVERYBODY REALLY LOVED THEM. WELL GOT TO GO MAKE THE DOUGHNUTS.

RICK

Originally posted by SPUDDIE

SPUDNUT DONUTS ARE THE BEST

I remember Spudnuts from the 1950's in The Dalles, OR as a young boy.
Is your shop a franchise? Is your shop an original and do you still use the original recepe? Would you share the recipe? Is the potato flour readily available? I think Spudnuts are ready for a comeback. They are lots better than "Krispy Kreme". SPUDNUT DONUTS ARE THE BEST

I don't know how well this will cut/paste, but in going through some old e-mail I re-discovered that the proprietor of the Spudnut Museum had sent me a list of existing Spudnut Shops throughout the U.S. I can't vouch for how current the list is, or whether or not these places are all of comparable quality, but I offer it nonetheless:


Spudnut Shop 612 East Main Street Magnolia, AR 71753 870-234-2005
Spudnut Shoppe 810 West Faulkner Street El Dorado, AR 71730 870-863-9914
Spudnut 4317 Glencoe Avenue Marina Del Rey, CA 310-821-6755
Spudnut & Deli 500 Tres Pinos Road Hollister, CA 95023 831-637-0555
Spudnut Donuts 1495 East Street Woodland, CA 95776 530-661-9514
Spudnut Donuts 1977 West Avenue L Lancaster, CA 93534 661-723-9432
Spudnut Donuts No 4 11285 Venice Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 310-397-1218
Spudnut Doughnuts 600 South Victoria Avenue Oxnard, CA 93035 805-382-2979
Spudnuts 2445 Arden Way Sacramento, CA 95825 916-927-8088
Spudnuts 1884 East Avenue J Lancaster, CA 93535 661-942-3367
Spudnuts&Bagels 3629 State Street Santa Barbara, CA 805-569-3719
Spudnuts & Donuts 220 West Carrillo Street Santa Barbara, CA 805-899-2779
Spudnuts Donuts 3027 South Hoover Street Los Angeles, CA 213-748-6865
Spudnuts Donuts 3001 South Figueroa Street Los Angeles, CA 213-749-0678
Spudnuts Donuts 4949 West Slauson Avenue Los Angeles, CA 323-292-8770
Spudnuts Donuts 8225 Topanga Canyon Blvd Canoga Park, CA 818-348-5054
Spudnuts Donuts 10244 Reseda Boulevard Northridge, CA 818-832-1176
Spudnuts Donuts 26859 Bouquet Canyon Road Santa Clarita, CA 661-296-4014
Spudnuts Donuts 16500 Sherman Way Van Nuys, CA 818-988-5115
Spudnuts Donuts 50 East Orangethorpe Avenue Anaheim, CA 92801 714-992-4555
Spudnuts Donuts 5752 Telephone Road Ventura, CA 93003 805-650-3777
Spudnuts Donuts 3810 West Channel Island Blvd Oxnard, CA 93035 805-984-7664
Spudnuts Donuts 2490 Sycamore Drive Simi Valley, CA 93065 805-526-6715
Spudnuts Donuts 2311 East Avenue South Palmdale, CA 93550 661-274-0013
Spudnuts Donuts 2038 West Avenue K Lancaster, CA 93536 661-942-2664
Spudnuts Warehouse 8533 Canoga Avenue Canoga Park, CA 91304 818-998-5678
Spudnuts Donuts 2808 West 23rd Street Panama City, FL 32405 850-784-0278
Spudnuts Donuts 7510 Thomas Drive Panama City, FL 32408 850-233-0877
Spudnuts Donuts 428 Thomas Drive Panama City, FL 32408 850-233-0282
Spudnuts Donuts 328 South Tyndall Parkway Panama City, FL 32404 850-913-0031
Pekin Spudnut Shop 1308 Derby Street Pekin, IL 61554 309-346-5381
Spudnut Shop 6930 Center Street Mentor, OH 44060 440-255-7257
Spudnut Shop Berea 650 Prospect Street Berea, OH 44017 440-234-4249
Spudnut Shop 1806 West 5th Street Plainview, TX 79072 806-296-9198
Spudnut Shop 312 South McMasters Street Amarillo, TX 79106 806-376-9201
Spudnut Shop 309 Avon Street Charlottesville, VA 434-296-0590
Spudnut Shop 228 Williams Boulevard Richland, WA 99352 509-943-3000

Thanks Phil J. for the list. I am really excited that there are so many! I grew up in the midwest and enjoyed the curious potato donuts. Can't wait to have them again.

From the Spudnuts Museum:

Recently, someone wrote to ask whether writer and chemist Edward Elmer
Smith (1890-1965), aka Doc Smith, had developed the potato-based recipe used in making Spudnuts. No way! That history-altering invention was the brainchild of the Pelton brothers, founders of the Spudnuts chain.

The Pelton boys were working in San Francisco; Bob for a drugstore, Al selling electrical appliances. They wanted to open their own business and thought there was a market opportunity in doughnut making, if they could come up with a good recipe. Potato flour was newly invented and it became the centerpiece of the Peltons' quest to develop the perfect doughnut.

The brothers moved to Salt Lake City, opened a little shop and struck out repeatedly with potato flour based doughnut recipes. Then, Al came up with the crazy, (but clearly inspired), notion to use a mashed potato mix and...waalah!....the result: a large, fluffy, tasty, golden brown delicacy.

As was true of Doc Smith, Bob went into the Navy to assist in the war effort. Al kept the Spudnut flame alive. And, when Bob returned from the war, the brothers developed a dry Spudnut mix that allowed them to ship the product without spoilage and the franchise was born.

So, while Doc Smith may have developed a potato-based doughnut batter, it was not the one that propelled the Pelton brothers into Spudnuts fame!

Isn't history fascinating!

(Note: To the individual who wrote with a request for a Museum brochure, would you please send your address again? I will happily send one your way.)

ok... I know that this topic is a little old... but I couldn't resist... Magnolia, AR is my hometown.

I had a Spudnut when I was there over the Christmas Holiday. As of then, they were still in operation.

I was looking for a spudnut shop up here in St. Louis... no luck.

Everyone up here thanks that I am crazy because I talk about how spudnuts are way better than donuts. I can't prove it because there are no shops here.

Anyways, Magnolia isn't that big of a place... Glad to see that it made it on a forum for something...

By the way, I recently tried the Spudnut shop listing in Sacramento and I asked for Spudnuts, she shook her head yes, so I got 6. They were not Spudnuts...but they were good nevertheless. Perhaps, because it was afternoon, the Spudnuts were all gone and she assumed I would not know the difference.

To everyone who has written so far, THANK YOU! I've really enjoyed reading the comments and memories about Spudnuts.

I never thought while I was growing up in Plainview, Texas, that I came from a town of such distinction. To be one of the few towns with a Spudnuts Shop is an honor. For those driving that way, Plainview is between Lubbock and Amarillo in the Texas Panhandle. Stop in for a chocolate Spuddie and a cup of coffee, and tell 'em Big DAVE says "howdy y'all!"

Well hot jig, my friends thought I was crazy when I told my story about the SPUDNUT shop in Pecos, Texas! I used to sell spudnuts door to door in the 1950's. I would pickup one basket (12 to 14 dozen) spudnuts and walk from one end of town to the other selling them. I would earn $1 for each basket I sold. I would average 3 baskets on a good Saturday. If you have not tasted a Spudnut, you have lived a sheltered life. Nothing compares to the unique taste. The shop was located across West Pecos Junior High and I would travel all the way to Eddie and Airport Blvd which is about 3 to 4 miles as the crow flies. (sigh) Those were the days! Interested in hearing from anyone who remembers the Spudnut Shop in Pecos Texas.

Memories of Spudnuts do tantalise us for a long time, don’t they? Just to give your Spudnut thread an international “flavour” I thought I should write to tell you that Spudnuts made it over the border to Canada in the 50’s, if not before. I sold Spudnuts door-to-door in ‘61 and ‘62 in Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, Canada (across the International Bridge from Sault Ste Marie, Michigan). Our Spudnut shop was a typical 50’s Soda ‘n Short Order out front with the Spudnut bakery in the back. It was truly “roadfood” being located on the Trans-Canada Highway passing through Sault Ste Marie. I didn’t make a lot of money selling Spudnuts that I didn’t spend out front were I was introduced to ice-cream floats and the Toasted Western (Denver) Sandwich. The owner was an innovative young businessman who was one of my first inspirations to go into business as a career. One of the fringe benefits as I remember was having all the day-old Spudnuts you could eat! http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/icon_smile_blush.gif To this day I have never eaten such light donuts made any other way. I don’t recall the flavour being that different from good raised donuts but the light texture was their outstanding feature. I have thought since that the Spudnut Shop must have been a franchise because all of the Spudnut mix came large bags elaborately logoed “Spudnut ...”. That shop is long since closed and demolished to make way for a Burger King, Subway or something.

There was a Spudnuts donut shop in my town of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio in the 60's. I had forgotten all about it until this thread.

Wow! The Spudnuts sound great! It does not sound like franchises are available...Does anyone know if that is correct? I'm originally from the Midwest but have lived in The Interior (Fairbanks, Alaska) for over 10 years now...I would love to look into the possibility of opening a Spudnuts up here! Any suggestions? Thanks!

Thanks for all this info.

Spudnut shop in Charlottesville,VA:
[img]http://images.snapfish.com/33%3A%3C458%3B23232%7Ffp46%3Dot%3E232%3B%3D924%3D%3B37%3DXROQDF%3E2323563987%3B%3A7ot1lsi[/img]

Wow... to see this was a so nostalgic. My parents owned a Spudnut shop in Roseburg Oregon in the late 60's into the 70's. Not only did my sister's and I have access to the best donuts in the world, we got the chance to work "behind the scenes". To this day, there is NOTHING like my Dad's donuts! The yellow trays that displayed the dozens of glazed, sugared and iced raised donuts... and the cake donuts in blueberry, raspberry, pumpkin to just name a few. Raised glazed donuts were .89 a dozen and the cake donuts were .69 a dozen. The wax bags with the little Spudnut guy embossed on them. The Spudnut coffee cups (wich all of us still do have at least one.) We also offered "Orange Rufus" drinks, similar to Orange Julius but so much better. Scary that I remember this!

The first location was a small little store on Harvard Blvd. My Dad and my uncle went in together and created this unique little donut shop. It was only a year or so later that the location moved to a bigger space on a busier street. My uncle went on to other things, but my Dad and my Mom continued the business. The combination of the ingredients and the vegetable shortening made for the most unique and yummy aroma ever! My Dad would turn on this exhaust fan that would send the aroma into the neighborhood. All of the baking, proofing, frying and dipping/or icing done by hand. I can still see my Dad (and his partner in crime, Ester) making the donuts. And, in an immaculate kitchen. You could eat off that floor. Well, almost.

My Dad was a pioneer in our family. A salesman all his life, he wanted to work for himself. Prior to opening the Spudnut Shoppe, his baking experience was making our Sunday morning pancakes in the shapes of Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck (and that was FREEHAND). He loved building this business.

There is nothing like a Spudnut. Nothing! It puts Krispy Kremes to shame. I live in the midwest now, and sad to see there isn't a Spudnut Shop here. Thanks for the opportunity to take a trip down memory lane.

I just noticed this topic and took a walk down memory lane. I grew up in Farmington, New Mexico and there was a Spudnut Shop there in 1951 when we arrived. I left Farmington, and moved to Georgia, in 1982 - and the Spudnut Shop was still operating. The Jolley family owned it that whole time.

From the above posts, it is apparent that the franchise started in Salt Lake City - but my memory suggests that the franchising firm was located in Idaho. Farmington was a Mormon community when we moved there in 1951. It was still legal to keep religious preference in school records - and LDS was 85%. The Jolley family was Mormon, and I always assumed that Spudnuts nationally was a Mormon owned enterprise. With the Peltons being in Salt Lake City, they likely were Mormon. Does anyone know for sure?

My memory matches many previous posts. They were very light and tasty. Most of my experiences eating Spudnuts were with my father. He made a daily trip to the post office and the bank. Intentionally, I suspect, Mr. Jolley located his Spudnut Shop on the side street between the bank and the post office. We would almost always have time for a Spudnut each morning. When one entered the shop, there was a large rack of Spudnuts on the left. At 10am, the racks were full of freshly made Spudnuts - still warm and dripping maple or chocolate frosting. The customer was expected to pick one or more Spudnuts, put them on a plate, get coffee or whatever, and sit at the counter to eat. When finished, the customer would go to the cashier and report what had been eaten. They would be charged accordingly. At slower times of the day, counter service was provided, but mid-morning when the local business community came in - it was serve yourself. My favorite pastry is still a slightly warm Spudnut dripping maple frosting.

Thanks for the memories!

Another memory lane trip here! I grew up in Albuqurque, NM and we had Spudnuts all the time. I remember the guys coming around selling them too. What great donuts! Then we moved to Casper, WY and no Spudnuts. Then I went to the University of Wyoming and there was a Spudnut shop in downtown Laramie!

I haven't had one in years. I did find a copy cat recipe for Spudnuts on a recipe site last year, but have not yet tried them. In my memory though, they are much better than Krispy Kreme ever will be!

quote:

Originally posted by Longstems



There is nothing like a Spudnut. Nothing! It puts Krispy Kremes to shame. I live in the midwest now, and sad to see there isn't a Spudnut Shop here.

Longstems, you are only about 500 miles from a Spudnut Shop!

Spudnut, Inc.
1308 Derby St.
Pekin, IL 61554 (a suburb of Peoria)
Ph. (309) 346-5381

You ask is Potato Four available--you betcha from King Arthur flour www.bakerscatalogue.com I use them all the time.

squint - - - for my memory sake - what`s the recipe ??????

Geobelfair, I just posted the 3 Spudnut recipes I have on the Recipe and Cooking Techniques forum under the title Spudnut recipes.

I have not tried any of these but will be within the next few weeks - gearing up for football tailgating!

None of these recipes used potato flour but I'm going to order some from King Aurther and experiment.

Please post your results if you make these!

squint, - - thanks for quick response , i`ll try to find potato dough locally and make or do as you say all the way