NOLA Doughnuts was a doughnut shop with three locations in the Portland metropolitan area, in the U.S. state of Oregon. The original shop opened in Lake Oswego in 2015, and a second opened in northwest Portland's Pearl District in 2018. A third location opened in Beaverton in 2022. All locations closed in January 2023.

NOLA Doughnuts
Exterior of the restaurant in Portland, Oregon's Pearl District, 2022
Restaurant information
Food typeDoughnuts
City
StateOregon
CountryUnited States
Websitenoladoughnuts.com

Description

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The menu included beignets, café au lait, fritters,[1] king cake,[2][3][4] la'ssants, milkshakes, pralines, and ice cream sandwiches. The Portland shop had New Orleans-style décor and played jazz.[5]

History

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The business was started by Rob Herkes, his sister Connie DeMerell, and third partner Frank Halpin. The trio sold products at the Beaverton Farmers Market before opening a brick and mortar store in Lake Oswego in October 2015.[6][7]

The business expanded in March 2018, with a second shop in northwest Portland's Pearl District.[5][8][9] In 2019, NOLA Doughnuts became part of the Underground Donut Tour.[10] A third location opened in Beaverton in 2022.[11][12]

All three locations closed in January 2023.[13][14] An announcement said in part, "The slow rebound from the pandemic and the current economic conditions have led us to make this difficult decision."[15]

Reception

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Janelle Lassalle included NOLA Doughnuts in Eater Portland's 2017 list of "11 Restaurants That Define Lake Oswego".[16] Alex Frane included the business in Thrillist's 2021 list of "The Absolute Best Donut Shops in Portland".[2]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "KOIN favorites: 6 donut shops in Portland". KOIN.com. 2019-10-11. Archived from the original on 2022-01-20. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
  2. ^ a b Frane, Alex (2021-03-21). "The Absolute Best Donut Shops in Portland". Thrillist. Archived from the original on 2022-01-20. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
  3. ^ Hamilton, Katherine Chew (2022-03-01). "The Best Portland Area Spots to Celebrate Mardi Gras". Portland Monthly. Archived from the original on 2022-03-22. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
  4. ^ Swindler, Samantha (2021-02-09). "Where to find a New Orleans-style Mardi Gras king cake in Portland". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2021-02-14. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
  5. ^ a b Williams, Heidi (2018-04-20). "New doughnut shop brings taste of New Orleans to Portland". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2020-11-09. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
  6. ^ Walsh, Chad (March 22, 2018). "NOLA Doughnuts Brings Made-to-Order Beignets to the Pearl". Portland Mercury. Archived from the original on 2021-04-23. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
  7. ^ Newell, Cliff (November 19, 2015). "A taste of New Orleans comes to Lake Oswego". Lake Oswego Review. Archived from the original on April 17, 2022. Retrieved April 17, 2022.
  8. ^ Jackson-Glidden, Brooke (2018-03-23). "More Doughnuts and Bagels Come to Portland". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2021-12-15. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
  9. ^ "NOLA Doughnuts opens in the Pearl District". KGW. 2018-04-25. Archived from the original on 2022-04-17. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
  10. ^ Amick, Brian (2019-04-19). "Portland becomes fourth city to add Underground Donut Tour". Bake Magazine. Archived from the original on 2021-04-10. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
  11. ^ Frane, Alex (2022-05-13). "Gregory Gourdet's Upcoming Haitian Restaurant Kann Will Open in July with a Cocktail Bar". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2022-05-13. Retrieved 2022-05-13.
  12. ^ Russell, Michael (2022-05-18). "Afuri opens Slabtown 'ramen lab,' NOLA Doughnuts returns to Beaverton, more restaurant news for May". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2022-05-18. Retrieved 2022-05-18.
  13. ^ Russell, Michael (2023-01-05). "Beignet bummer: NOLA Doughnuts closes all Portland-area locations". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2023-01-05. Retrieved 2023-01-06.
  14. ^ Wong, Janey (2021-01-20). "Portland's Restaurant, Bar, and Food Cart Closures". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2021-01-21. Retrieved 2023-01-11.
  15. ^ Jackson-Glidden, Brooke (2023-01-05). "New Orleans-Inspired Pastry Shop NOLA Doughnuts Closes All of Its Portland-Area Locations". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2023-01-05. Retrieved 2023-01-06.
  16. ^ Lassalle, Janelle (2017-09-22). "The 11 Restaurants That Define Lake Oswego, Mapped". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2019-06-03. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
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