(PENSACOLA, FL.) - It’s time to go to Maynards.
That familiar slogan is often heard here, whether it's after Sunday church or a sports win. Any real local knows that special feeling when the door swings open into the retro-vibe donut hole on the corner of Nine Mile and Pine Forest. Yes, you can get a Krispy Kreme or Dunkin Donuts anywhere, but you can only get Maynard’s here.
Gulf Coast Weekly chose to feature the famous donut shop in its first edition because nothing speaks to small business more than a local couple purchasing an establishment because of how it makes you feel.
“Donuts are happy,” Lisa Wright said, standing with her husband Steve next to the big pink donut that welcomes customers when the door swings open.
Wright’s right. They do, and they also make memories, the main reason behind the Wrights’ purchase.
“My love affair with Maynards started with my mother when we would go get a hot dog and then after we would go to Maynards to get a donut,” Lisa said.
Photo Credit: Maynard's Donuts
“ And when it came for sale a little more than two years ago, Steve and I thought that it had just so many memories from my mom and stepdad, and it’s just always felt like family.”
Specifically, Lisa’s father.
“My dad was a Pensacola Policeman for 30 years, and I wanted to own a business, use it as a vehicle to be part of the community and preserve and continue the legacy of bringing quality donuts and other baked goods and hopefully a little bit of joy to the community,” Lisa said.
That word family comes up a lot during the conversation, with the couple immediately noting that is how they feel about their customers.
“We have regulars who order the same thing daily or weekly,” Lisa said of locals who become like family. “Our front-of-house employees know those customers and often have a regular's order ready before they can walk from the parking lot to the counter.”
Though doors open at 6 a.m., the work begins at 11 p.m. the evening before, with much more foot traffic after Friday.
“Our weekends are super busy because on Sunday we supply a lot of churches in the area,” Steve said.
Photo Credit: Maynard's Donuts
Like any small business, some seasons are busier than others, with school opening a bit slow until picking up Maynards in the morning routine starts back up. Hands down, Sunday is the busiest day of the week, according to the couple.
“Each Saturday night we make approximately 45 dozen donuts for local churches, which is more than 500 donuts in addition to what we make for our store inventory,” Lisa said. “For many churches, we deliver those donuts so they are in time for Sunday school or connection classes.”
Lisa credits Jennifer Lara, a local school teacher who maintains a master list of each church's specific order and helps decorate, box, and deliver early each Sunday morning. Early morning hours are what daily manager Hailey Akner said, and it’s not a bother at all.
“I am just ready to go first thing in the morning,” Akner said. “I started because I like baking and thought it would be fun, and it’s a nice and easy pastime really.”
Now the Wrights are like family.
“We inherited Hailey,” Lisa said. “She has been here forever.”
Photo Credit: Maynard's Donuts
Akner, who is in charge of all inventory including specialty coffees, sodas, and more, is not the only staff member who makes the Maynards’ difference, according to the couple, who credit the back-of-house employees.
“They work hard early in the morning and behind the scenes to make sure customers have a great experience,” Lisa said. “Every beautiful donut you eat has usually been handcrafted by Dwayne McCants and usually lovingly fried by Megan Bryant.”
Speaking of Bryant, locals can credit the Maynard’s frier for pushing pumpkin-flavored donuts this week.
“I am always trying to hold on to summer,” Lisa said, admitting her reluctance to start whipping up the famous Fall flavor. “But customers are ready too.”
Next comes gingerbread, according to Steve, saying, " Before that, we will do an October apple cider and then peppermint next.
Photo Credit: Maynard's Donuts
“We always have cake donuts consisting of seasonal offerings,” Steve said, adding Fall is set apart with citrus flavors including lemon or orange. Every day, blueberry and chocolate cake are our best sellers.”
From mermaids to soccer balls, or donuts cut into letters to spell out a message, you name it, Maynards can make it happen. Whether it's a wedding, baby shower, or any family milestone, there is something about Maynard's tiny cakes that draws countless holiday parties, sports team events, and community and corporate gatherings.
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“Give us the date, and we can bring out our truck,” Lisa said. “You can pay for us to be there, or we can charge by the donut."
Photo Credit: Maynard's Donuts
Maynard’s truck has made mornings brighter for HCA Florida employees and My Pensacola Credit Union, and has a gig booked in October with Navy Federal.
“We did the book festival at Bayview Park this year,” Lisa said. “We're looking to add others to the list and looking to deploy our truck daily at a local business to supply coffee and donuts for customers.”
It’s not just about Maynard’s customers; it’s also about seeing other local businesses succeed. Take, for example, the Alabama-made Conecuh sausage wrapped in dough now featured as a brunch special at Maynard's.
Photo Credit: Maynard's Donuts
“If people want something for lunch, it’s perfect,” Scott said.
The couple also supports local artists, turning a 1942 cigarette machine into a metal venue that turns out art while complementing the sock-hop vibe. Local artists' work is condensed to the size of a cigarette pack and replaced upon commission.
“You put in a five-dollar coin and never know what you are going to get,” Steve said.
Lisa added that the couple continues to work with other small businesses in an effort to keep local alive, saying “Alison at Bailey's and her husband talked about us bringing our trailer on Saturday.”
Photo Credit: Maynard's Donuts
While the Wrights sometimes say, “It's a struggle,” owning a local eatery is worth it for so many reasons, specifically freshness.
“Everything is hand-rocked, hand-fried, hand-decorated, so you are not going to get the perfectly round cake donut,” Scott said. “There is going to be little imperfections, making it perfectly imperfect, which I can’t take credit for since the previous owners came up with that.”
Now that the Wrights have owned the famous, local donut hole for two years, they truly understand that "owning Maynard’s comes with a real sense of responsibility.”
“We know how much it means to people,’ Lisa said. “As someone who has been going to Maynard's for years, I understand that people are not just buying doughnuts — they are continuing a tradition and creating memories.”
For more information on the awesome local donut shop, visit Maynardsdonuts.com.
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