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Mister Donut

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The Mister Donut chain was founded in 1956. Although the brand is defunct in the U.S. except for one hold-out in Godfrey, IL (see bottom of this page), Mister Donut is the largest doughnut chain in Japan and has other outposts in other countries. For more, see this website.

The early buildings shown below had flat roofs and a zigzag detail over the entrance. Some had a Mister Donut neon sign on the roof with a zigzag design behind the letters like this. The neon sign panels were had either a short and long side or a more symetrical wedge shape. Very few of these buildings and sign panels remain. I don't believe any of the short-side/long-side sign panels remain unless they are in private collections.

former Mister Donut
Danville, IL
This early former Mister Donut still has the rooftop neon sign with zigzag design behind the letters, although the letters have been adapted. I don't believe there are any other rooftop signs like this that have survived. If there was the zigzag feature over the entrance on this building originally, it was removed. In 1973, this location became a Royal Donut and the names on both signs were updated then. For more, see this website. [map]

former Mister Donut [gone]
West Des Moines, IA		 former Mister Donut
West Palm Beach, FL
This former Mister Donut in West Des Moines was last known as Donut King. The "Mister" was removed from the sign and it remained that way until the end. It was still there in 2016. In 2017, the building and sign were gone.

This former Mister Donut in West Palm Beach was built in 1960. The building now houses La Cabana Latin Grill. By 2011, the wedge-shaped pole sign panels were gone. [map]

former Mister Donut
St. Petersburg, FL
This former Mister Donut was built in 1965. The building has the zigzag detail over the entrance. The sign has the double poles like the one in Danville above with a top wedge-shaped pole above. This has been a Fray's Donut House since around 2014. [map]

former Mister Donut [gone]
Cleveland, OH
This former Mister Donut has housed Peter Pan Donuts for many years. These photos are from 2005. This store closed in 2008 and has been vacant since then. The building is now in very bad shape. By 2019, the canopy had fallen off and was laying on the ground. The building and sign were demolished in 2021. For more, see this website.

More Early Mister Donuts:
Denver, CO
Fitchburg, MA [gone]

Around the mid-1960s, Mister Donut began building stores with folded plate roofs. The plastic pole signs mimicked the building's roof line. Most of these remaining buildings now house other businesses and the signs have been adapted or destroyed. The locations below are organized alphabetically by state.

former Mister Donut
Hayward, CA
This former Mister Donut was built around 1966. The building now houses Tommy's Donuts. The Mister Donut pole sign was adapted. The plastic sign on the side of the building is original and the only one still on public display. The lower half is now broken. [map]

former Mister Donut [gone]
San Jose, CA		 former Mister Donut
San Jose, CA
The first former Mister Donut last housed Pacific Interlock Pavingstone. The building previously housed Sunset Pools and then Swan Pools. In 2021, the building and, presumably, the sign were demolished. For more, see this website.

The second former Mister Donut in San Jose shown above was built in 1966. The building has housed a Subway restaurant since 2010. Before that, the building housed a H. Salt Esq. Fish & Chips restaurant. For more, see this website. [map]

former Mister Donut
Sacramento, CA
This Mister Donut was built in 1966. The building now houses the Zain Motor used car dealership. [map]

Rick's On 5
Wallingford, CT		 Bradenton Donuts
Bradenton, FL
Rick's On 5 adapted Mister Donut sign is the best-preserved example in the country. It is the only one that still has the original donut man top panel. The original building has either been remodeled or replaced. [map]

This Mister Donut location in Bradenton opened in 1966. It has been Bradenton Donuts since the early 1990s. [map]

former Mister Donut
Fort Myers, FL		 former Mister Donut
Winter Haven, FL		 former Mister Donut
Panama City, FL
This former Mister Donut in Fort Myers housed a Domino's Pizza from at least 2007 until 2015. The building remained vacant until 2020 when it began housing the HJ German Corner. [map]

This former Mister Donut in Winter Haven has housed Donut Man since at least 2008. The building had been replaced by then while the sign had been adapted. [map]

This Mister Donut in Panama City has housed a Domino's since at least 2007. [map]

former Mister Donut
Indian Harbour Beach, FL		 former Mister Donut
Melbourne, FL
This former Mister Donut in Indian Harbour Beach has housed the Too Cool Cafe since at least 2016. [map]

This former Mister Donut in Melbourne has housed the La Cubanita Sandwich since at least 2007. [map]

More Florida:
Titusville

Home Cut Donuts
Joliet, IL
Home Cut Donuts occupies another former Mister Donut building. [map]

former Mister Donut
Decatur, IL
This former Mister Donut is or was still selling donuts as Donuts & Mor and K&S Donuts. I'm not sure if they were still open when this photo was taken in 2009. The building now houses Taqueria La Perlita. [map]

More Illinois:
Belleville [vintage; gone]

Indiana:
Monticello [gone]

Maine:
Waterville [vintage; gone]

former Mister Donut
Kalamazoo, MI
This former Mister Donut in Kalamazoo housed the PlumCrazzy Ice Cream Parlor when this photo was taken in 2011. It had closed by 2012. I believe the building was still vacant in 2014. In 2015, the building had been painted red and white and it was housing Quality Auto Today, a used car business. [map]

Mid-American Title Loan
Springfield, MO		 former Mister Donut
Omaha, NE
This location houses a Mid-American Title Loan office. The building was occupied by the Yen Ching Stir-Fry Express before that. [map]

This former Mister Donut in Omaha now houses the Rice Bowl Chinese Restaurant. [map]

Speedee Cash
Las Vegas, NV
This Speedee Cash is another former Mister Donut. In the late 1990s, the building was occupied by Charleston Shoe Repair. It had been Speedee Cash since at least 2006. In 2021, the building began housing the Stedfast Tattoo Parlor. [map]

Tasty Donut [gone]
Endwell, NY
Tasty Donut was built as a Mister Donut. When the name was changed, the plastic "Tasty" part of the sign was added to cover up "Mister". I've been told that this location's W-shaped roof was damaged in a tornado in the early 1990s and replaced. This store had been closed since at least 2007. This photo was taken in 2010. In 2011, the sign's plastic panels were removed. The rest of the sign was removed later that year.

Little Caesars Pizza
Syracuse, NY
This Little Caesars Pizza has occupied this former Mister Donut since at least 2006. [map]

former Mister Donut
Tulsa, OK
This former Mister Donut housed Daytonz Hitch and Truck Accessories for many years. These photos are from 2011. Around 2019, the building began housing Ray's Tire & Auto Service. [map]

former Mister Donut
Portland, OR		 former Mister Donut
Harrisburg, PA
This former Mister Donut in Portland now houses the Gateway Breakfast House. [map] This former Mister Donut in Harrisburg was occupied by the Strictly Formals tuxedo store for many years. The building now houses the L.A.W. Messenger Service. [map]

South Dakota:
Sioux Falls [vintage; gone]

Washington:
Shoreline

Canada:
Toronto, ON [vintage; gone]

Mister Donut
Godfrey, IL
This Mister Donut is the only operating location left in the U.S. It opened in 1980. [map]

Donut Signs
page 1		 Donut Signs
page 2		 Donut Signs
page 3		 Donut Signs
page 4		 Dawn Donuts
Main SCA Article
Companion Page		 Main Signs Page

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