10/20/2023
Hey, Doughnuteers! This is a kinda long one.
First, tomorrow is the 14th Anniversary of Dutch Monkey Doughnuts. On October 20, 2009, Martin and I opened the doors along with two part time team members (hey, Stephanie and Dawn!) and sold every doughnut and every piece of scrap dough we had made to an encouraging crowd (excluding that one woman who hated them and knocked on the door after closing to tell us so 🙂). We started this business just to be able to work together, but ended up gaining so much more. Our incomparably awesome customers became friends, and our little business became a big part of the growing South Forsyth community. We always said we’d be lucky to make it five years, and are now starting year 15. It has not been easy, but if you measure success by being able to do what you love with the people you love, we’ve been wildly successful.
Now, the not so great news: I (Arpana) was diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease this April, following years of declining function in motor skills. Parkinson’s, as most of you know, is a progressive and incurable neurodegenerative disorder. With this news, and the fact that our son Kal has been in treatment for a brain tumor since January, we need to simplify our work commitments to take care of our family/health needs.
Through the benevolent universal forces of doughnut love, we were connected with an AWESOME company to take over our Johns Creek shop. Tomorrow will be our last day open at . In mid-November, the good folks of .coffee (yes, the ones with the gorgeous cafe at Cu***ng City Center) will open their third location in that space, serving their stellar coffee AND a selection of Dutch Monkey Doughnuts. We’re excited to take our coffee breaks there, and hope you will support them, too. Meanwhile, our South Forsyth shop will remain the same Dutch Monkey you’ve known and loved since 2009. Win-win, right?
As always, thank you for being the most supportive doughnut fans on the planet. It’s because of you that we can keep rolling with the punches and doing what we love to do. - Arpana