The hot donut shop is the latest launch from Ridgway Grace and Mark Rooks of Cherry Hill, who also operate Rent-a-Chef. Inc., Meals 2 Go, and the Beast of the Street food truck.
By Matt Skoufalos | March 27, 2018
Ridgway Grace and Mark Rooks in their Beast of the Street food truck. Credit: Matt Skoufalos.
Husband-and-wife team Ridgway Grace and Mark Rooks have had a lot of success spotting food trends.
The couple operates three successful catering businesses from its Haddonfield headquarters: Rent-a-Chef, Inc., Beast of the Street food truck, and delivery service Meals2Go.
But in the winter, when things slow down, Rooks and Grace start kicking around ideas.
“We both love to be busy,” Grace said. “We have four children and three businesses. We always feed off each other.”
This April, they’re adding a fourth business to go with that fourth kid: Haddonfield Donut Company.
Grace and Rooks had considered the on-demand, gourmet donut shop concept for a few years, but an opening-weeked visit to Duck’s Donuts in Marlton this February clinched it.
“I said, ‘Let’s go check it out,’ and there was a 90-minute wait,’” Rooks said. “We went the next day, and it was a 40-minute wait, and it was jammed.
“I looked at her, she looked at me, and we said, ‘Let’s do this.’”
Mark Rooks and the Donut Robot Mark II, the linchpin of the Haddonfield Donut Company. Credit: Matt Skoufalos.
Haddonfield Donut Company is built around a vanilla cake donut recipe, a robotic donut fryer, and the flavors of My Little Kupkake, the Collingswood bakery Grace shuttered in 2015.
Toppings range from the basic (powdered sugar, chocolate glaze) to the exotic (maple bacon, Fruity Pebbles).
Eight stuffed varieties will rotate daily through flavors like red velvet cake, orange creamsicle, and chocolate peanut butter cup.
Modeled after gourmet donut bakeries like Federal Donuts, Haddonfield Donut Company is priced accordingly. Fresh donuts are $2 apiece, $10.50 per half-dozen, and $18 for a dozen. Stuffed donuts are $2.50 apiece, $13.50 per half-dozen, and $24 a dozen.
The menu also includes Lavazza coffee, lattes, and espresso drinks.
With Wi-Fi service and seating for 20 in an adjacent lounge, Grace said the shop will be “a down-to-earth place where people can bring their kids.”
“We’re looking for something where they can come in here and relax,” Rooks said.
Ridgway Grace said she’ll revive some of her My Little Kupkake recipes at Haddonfield Donut Company. Credit: Matt Skoufalos.
Situated between the Haddonfield PATCO station and the borough public library, the storefront at 14-16 Tanner Street is also well-positioned to capture commuter foot traffic and drive-up business.
“It’s like throwing a bowling ball and knocking all the pins down,” Rooks said.
“We have the dessert end of it, the catering end of it, and the food truck end of it.
“It’s a one-stop shop.”
Haddonfield Donut Company is located at 14-16 Tanner Street in Haddonfield.
Anticipating an April 7 opening, its hours likely will be 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and until 3 p.m. Sunday.
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