When Duck Donuts opened in Polk City in 2024, it marked the first Iowa outpost of the North Carolina-based franchise. The shop’s signature concept — warm, made-to-order vanilla cake doughnuts — drew a celebratory crowd, including campers who lined up overnight for freebies.
On Nov. 16, Duck Donuts announced the Polk City storefront closed, transitioning to a mobile food-truck model in 2026. The move aims to improve traffic flow and flexibility. Redeemable vouchers (“Quack Cards”) will be honored at the truck.
“After a lot of reflection, we’ve made the decision to close our storefront and take Duck Donuts on the road. While this wasn’t an easy choice, it’s one that positions us for a stronger, more flexible future,” owners Shane and Mandy Torres announced on Facebook.
The couple said the 1,410-square-foot Polk City location already has a new tenant expected to take over in the new year.
“When we decided to open in Polk City, we believed the combination of a growing community, summer lake traffic, and visitors from Saylorville and Big Creek would make it the perfect spot for a Duck Donuts shop,” they wrote on Facebook. “Unfortunately, this past year the summer traffic never reached the level we anticipated, and we’ve realized we overestimated the size of the market for a year-round brick-and-mortar location.”
Patrons build their own doughnuts, choosing a base, coatings (glaze, chocolate, peanut butter, cinnamon), toppings (sprinkles, bacon, Oreo), and drizzle (salted caramel, raspberry, hot fudge). Fan favorites include maple bacon, blueberry pancake, and cinnamon bun.
The food truck launches in 2026.
Sign up for our new dining newsletter, Table Talk DSM, which comes out on Wednesday mornings with all the latest news on restaurants and bars in the metro. You can sign up for free at DesMoinesRegister.com/tabletalk.
Susan Stapleton is the entertainment editor and dining reporter at The Des Moines Register. You can reach out to her on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, or drop her a line at sstapleton@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Duck Donuts closes Polk City shop, goes mobile with food truck in 2026
Reporting by Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
