Gold Star Donuts reopens in Bradenton three years after Hurricane Irma shut it down
It’s been a three-year wait for fans of Gold Star Donuts, who have been missing the fluffy, sweet doughnut confections with a hint of a sugar snap at first bite.
Gold Star reopened this month after being closed for three years because of damage suffered during Hurricane Irma.
The little shop that bakes its doughnuts fresh seven days a week at 1246 Whitfield Ave. in the Whitfield Square shopping plaza, reopened on Sept. 14. That first day it sold out in one hour, said Lin Teav, who was waiting on a steady stream of customers on Tuesday.
Saga Williams was a first-time customer and took home a box full — raspberry doughnuts, bear claws, apple fritters, cherry doughnuts and doughnuts with sprinkles — for her children who were studying their school lessons at home.
A customer from Chicago visiting the area heard about Gold Star and bought four apple fritters.
“We are so excited that you’re open,” the Chicagoan said.
A long-time regular, Frank Castoran, had been waiting impatiently for Gold Star to reopen.
“I will have two fritters — no, let me have three,” Castoran said. “I have been coming here for years. They have the best doughnuts in town.”
Asked what he did while Gold Star was closed, Castoran replied: “I mostly did without.”
Brenda Ayers dropped by Gold Star and bought two boxes of doughnuts for colleagues at Manatee Technical College, as well as a jelly and a glazed for herself.
“These are the best doughnuts in town,” Ayers said. “It was like are they ever going to open, are they ever going to open?”
Best sellers at Gold Star include apple fritter, glazed, bear claw, and Bavarian cream, but they are all good, Teav said.
Gold Star is open 5 a.m. - 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and 6 a.m. - 3 p.m. weekends.
Orders of four dozen or more require a 24-hour notice at 941-755-1225.
This story was originally published September 30, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
