A popular Sarasota doughnut shop recently closed its location in a busy dining and shopping district.
Five-O Donut Co. has shuttered its University Town Center shop at 81 N. Cattlemen Road in the same plaza as Target after a final day of business April 26, according to a social media post by Five-O. The doughnut shop now has three locations open: its original Sarasota storefront on Ringling Boulevard, Bradenton in the El Conquistador plaza and by Ellenton Premium Outlets.
“We need to consolidate and reduce overhead as it’s just not possible as a locally owned small business to sustain the impact of ever-increasing costs on everything across the board,” the social media post read.
What is the story behind Five-O Donut Co.?
Owner Christine Nordstrom opened the original Five-O in 2017 before expanding to a second location at 7119 S. Tamiami Trail in Sarasota’s Buccaneer Plaza the following year, Shops at Siesta Row in 2020, Bradenton and University Town Center in 2022, and Ellenton in late 2023. While the Buccaneer Plaza, Shops at Siesta Row and University Town Center locations have closed — along with a briefly open St. Petersburg shop — its other locations remain open.
Five-O sells “simple” doughnuts, such as vanilla glazed and chocolate iced, along with more elaborate “fancy” creations such as the Cookie Monster (blue vanilla buttercream, Oreo bits, cookie dough bites and Biscoff cookie butter), as well as special and seasonal offerings. It also features police-themed décor and branding, with Five-O’s original location operating near the courthouse and police station in downtown Sarasota.
What else is going on in University Town Center’s restaurant scene?
Plenty has been going on in UTC’s dining scene lately, albeit more openings than closings. Recently opened restaurants include the Ohio-based “chef-driven tavern” Kitchen Social, a second Sarasota area location for St. Armands Greek spot Blu Kouzina, and Japanese eatery Zōtō and chef’s counter Yūgen — both created by the same James Beard Award-nominated restaurateurs, Jimmy and Johnny Tung. Mama G’s German Bakery and Coffeehouse, another local purveyor of baked goods, also recently opened a UTC location.
Upcoming openings include Miami Beach-founded pizzeria Mister O1 Extraordinary Pizza and Olivia and On Swann, two acclaimed Tampa restaurants from the same award-winning restaurateur Chris Ponte.
For more information on Five-O Donut Co. and its remaining locations, visit fiveodonutco.com.
Email entertainment reporter Jimmy Geurts at jimmy.geurts@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Popular Sarasota doughnut shop closes one of its locations
Reporting by Jimmy Geurts, Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
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