Would you wait in line for 45 minutes for a glazed donut? Some people in Eugene would. Locals Donuts has garnered a cult following with its weekly Wednesday pop-ups in the Office Depot parking lot on Chad Drive.
In other restaurant news for this week, a new coffee cart opened in Springfield, and O' My Mini Donuts is opening a brick-and-mortar location.
Local's Donuts Grows Cult Following in Eugene
Taylor Wolfe found out about Locals Handcrafted Donuts and Pretzels when they were shopping at Costco about a year ago.
“I’m a donut lover, and these are probably my favorite donuts I’ve ever had,” Wolfe said. “I love that the menu is tiny because they do everything that they do correctly.”
The menu at Locals Donuts is simple. Customers can order a glazed donut, a sugar-coated donut, a pretzel, or milk. They also have weekly specials, which always sell out early, because of the huge line.
“The longest I’ve waited is about 45 minutes,” Wolfe said. It was the first time they came to Locals, and they had really just wanted to see what it was all about. “It was worth every minute.”
The line at Locals wasn't too bad just after 1 p.m. on Wednesday in the Office Depot Parking Lot, where it was pouring rain. There was still a consistent group of eight to 10 people milling around the truck despite the weather, either waiting to order or waiting for their food.
When asked why she thinks people will consistently wait in line for her donuts, Locals owner Angie Troyer laughs.
“Our products are fresh and made right here in front of people,” she said. “I probably wouldn’t go crazy over a day-old donut, but if I can see it being made in front of me, and it’s warm and fresh, that makes a difference.”
A group of five runs the truck quickly and efficiently, with one worker seamlessly forming pretzels, another dropping donuts in oil, and another dipping the donuts into a sweet, warm glaze. The excess glaze drips off the donuts as they hang in the window, tempting each passersby with their delectable smell.
Troyer has been working with donuts since she was 12. Her parents started a donut truck in Tennessee, and have been building up their donut and pretzel customer base since then. She bought the current Locals food truck from her parents and continues to use their recipes in her business.
“We make everything fresh and we don’t use any mixes in our doughnuts, which might make us stand out,” Troyer said. “We use real milk, real eggs, all made from scratch.”
Something else that makes Locals special is that they're only in Eugene once a week. On Wednesdays, Locals is stationed in the Office Depot parking lot on Chad Drive from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. If you care to get a special donut — this week’s is Maple Bacon — get there early!
New Coffee Cart, Sip Happens, opens in Springfield
Ashley Serna has been working in coffee since she was a freshman in high school. First, she did a stint at a local shop in Junction City. Then she worked at Dutch Bros and some local shops, including Stay Woke in Eugene.
After a lifetime working in coffee, Serna feels confident being her boss at her new coffee truck, Sip Happens.
Serna bought the trailer for Sip Happens on Facebook Marketplace a little over a month ago. With a new espresso machine, her husband's help, and a lot of hard work, she had the grand opening of Sip Happens on Thursday at Little Red Farm Nursery.
Customers have the power to customize their own coffee drinks at Sip Happens, but Serna also has seasonal specials. The most popular so far has been the Sweet and Salty, a mix of salted caramel and white chocolate. This fall she’s looking to do cookie butter and pumpkin drinks as well.
Sip Happens will be moving all around Eugene and Springfield the first few months it’s open. Customers can check out Serna’s Instagram @sip.happens.llc for updates on its hours and location .
O' My Mini Donuts to open new brick-and-mortar location
O’ My Mini Donuts announced on Facebook that they have secured a property for a brick-and-mortar location. The shop, which started as a food truck located in Oakway Center, will soon move to the market district of Eugene next to SIP Coffee Shop and the Old Spaghetti Factory.
“While the space may be small, it is filled with character and has a vibe we believe you will love,” they said in a Facebook post.
O’ My Mini Donuts expects to open its new location in around three weeks. Customers can stay tuned to updates on the grand opening on social media.
Samantha Pierotti is the food, drinks, and "things to do" reporter for the Register-Guard in Eugene. With tips on restaurants or local happenings, email her at spierotti@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: New Donuts, coffee in Eugene this week
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