PVDonuts is for sale. What's the plan for the popular doughnut shop?

Gail Ciampa, Providence Journal
Updated ·2 min read

Providence's original and wildly popular artisan doughnut shop is for sale.

The bakery and coffee shop owned by Lori and Paul Kettelle announced the news on social media Monday night with the posting "PVDonuts Is ... For Sale."

"We’ll be looking for a buyer(s) who’s ready to hit the ground running, grow and expand the PVDonuts brand beyond a single location and continue to create opportunities for our amazing team members," they wrote on Instagram. "Until then, we’ll still be here running the show!"

A selection of PVDonuts from 2017. The changing monthly menu, with seasonal selections and a mix of old and new flavors, has always been part of the shop's wide appeal.
A selection of PVDonuts from 2017. The changing monthly menu, with seasonal selections and a mix of old and new flavors, has always been part of the shop's wide appeal.

"We’ve thought about this on and off for a few years, and what finally drove us to this decision all came down to mental health and matters in our personal lives. We’re also at a different place in life since we started PVDonuts, and it’s taken us a long time to accept it," they said.

They said they were planning to open a second location, but then their thinking changed. They weren't going to be the force behind an expansion.

The opening of PVDonuts was accompanied by many lines. Even now, after seven years, the donuts are wildly popular and generally sell out.
The opening of PVDonuts was accompanied by many lines. Even now, after seven years, the donuts are wildly popular and generally sell out.

The Kettelles said they'd make no comments to the press and give no interviews on the matter. They pledged a seamless transition when they find their buyer.

Last year, they opened a second, different business, Oak Bake Shop, a self-described "Jew-ish bakery and cafe" at 130 Cypress St. in Providence. There was no announcement on that Instagram page.

They recently moved the doughnut shop to 158 Wickenden St., from their original Ives Street location.

PVDonuts started back in 2016 as a pop-up at Sin, the dessert shop that was then on industrial Allens Avenue. It was born on Instagram with pictures of beautiful doughnuts.

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New Jersey native Lori Kettelle graduated from Johnson & Wales University in 2012 with a baking and pastry degree. She had an internship with chef Jennifer Luxmoore at Sin. She and her new husband Paul loved to travel. In each city they visited, they tried new doughnuts.

They opened their PVDonuts shop on 79 Ives St. and the lines of fans began to form. Even now, they regularly sell out. Each month, PVDonuts posts a new menu featuring a variety of styles including doughnut holes and filled pastries. Their marketing and their always-interesting flavors have kept the business popular.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: PVDonuts is for sale, will remain open