Dawn Donuts started out as a bakery in 1920 in Jackson, MI. "Dawn" referred to the time that the bakers started working. There were at least 49 Michigan locations at one time. Close to 20 of these pointy-roofed buildings were built from 1960-1966. There are only eight left now. Dawn Donuts referred to them as "peaked roof buildings." Around 1968, the company began building less flashy, hexagon-shaped buildings. Dunkin' Donuts bought the chain in 1991. Dunkin' only operates in one of the former Dawn Donuts buildings now (see below). Dawn Donuts still survives as Dawn Food Products, a wholesale producer of bakery mixes. For more, see this website.

Dawn Donuts [gone] Waterford, MI	Dawn Donuts [building gone] Flint, MI

The Waterford location was still open when this photo was taken in 2011. By 2013, the building was vacant. The building was demolished in 2016. The Flint location was the last Dawn Donuts location still in operation in one of these pointy roofed buildings. The building was demolished in 2013. It was replaced with a new building combining Dawn Donuts and Subway. The "Baker Boy" logo was developed by Dawn Foods. The first Baker Boy neon sign was built around 1958. This sign in Flint is the only one left on public display. There may be one of these signs at a museum in Washington state. There is one lit with neon at the House on the Rock in Spring Green, WI. A few others are in private collections. There were two other Flint locations that had pointy roof buildings which have been demolished. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

former Dawn Donuts [gone] Saginaw, MI

2005:			2011:

This location was built in 1960. It closed in 2008 and the sign was removed. In 2019, the building was still vacant and boarded up. There was one other pointy roof building in Saginaw which was demolished. Around 2022, this building was also demolished.

Dunkin' Donuts former Dawn Donuts Jackson, MI	Rock-n-Roll Donuts former Dawn Donuts Battle Creek, MI	Jersey Mike's former Dawn Donuts Midland, MI

The Jackson, Battle Creek and Midland Dawn Donuts buildings all housed Dunkin' Donuts locations when these photos were taken in 2011. Since 2012, the Battle Creek location housed Tom's Donuts. It now houses Rock-n-Roll Donuts. The Midland location closed in 2012. The building was still vacant in 2019. It now houses a Jersey Mike's. [Jackson map]; [Battle Creek map]; [Midland map]

former Dawn Donuts Portage, MI

This Portage location was vacant when these photos were taken in 2011. The building now houses Moe's Southwest Grill. [map]

Metro PCS former Dawn Donuts Saginaw, MI	Quiznos former Dawn Donuts [gone] Bay City, MI

This Saginaw location now houses a Boost Mobile store. It housed the Taste of India restaurant before that. [map] The Bay City location was built in 1964. It closed around 1992. The building housed a Quiznos restaurant from late 1990s until 2012. The building was demolished in 2012 for a car dealership expansion.

Bell's Pizza former Dawn Donuts East Lansing, MI	Windchill Donut Shop (former Dawn Donuts [gone] Port Huron, MI

The East Lansing location was built in 1963. It has housed Bell's Greek Pizza for many years. There was another pointy roof building in Lansing which has been demolished. [map] The Port Huron location housed the Windchill Donut Shop since at least 2001. The business had closed and the building was demolished around 2016.

former Dawn Donuts Northwood, OH

This former Dawn Donuts now houses Don's Donuts. These photos are from 2009. The lower neon panels of the original sign remained until around 2015. This location has been around since 1964 as mentioned in this advertisement for two locations in Toledo, OH. There was probably a neon Baker Boy sign where the plastic panel sign is now. The plastic panel shown above has also been replaced with a different design. [map]

Other Pointy Roof Dawn Donuts Buildings: Pontiac, MI

Donut Signs page 1

Donut Signs page 2

Donut Signs page 3

Donut Signs page 4

Mister Donut

Main SCA Article Companion Page

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Copyright. All photos at this website are copyrighted and may only be used with my consent. This includes posting them at Facebook, Pinterest, blogs, other websites, personal use, etc. Tips & Updates. If you have suggestions about places that I haven't covered, historical info, or updates about places/things that have been remodeled or removed, I'd love to hear from you: roadarch@outlook.com.