Maggie’s Doughnuts will soon be coming back to Chardon under the ownership of a longtime owner.
The opportunity for Bill Poole, who started working for Maggie’s when he was 13, to have ownership of Maggie’s came along 33 years ago. Now, his daughter, Alissa Hogue, has the same opportunity with Maggie’s new location in Chardon at 301 Center St.
“For the most part, coffee and doughnuts are a great way for people to start their day. They’re not willing to sacrifice that yet no matter how tight things might be in their pocket book,” said Poole, who started at Maggie’s location in Middlefield.
“There’s been ups and downs, but it’s been a great business for me and my family,” he added. “When I was 13, I started sweeping floors, doing dishes and taking garbage out as a part-time summer job. I continued working through the rest of high school and then went to Lakeland College, and continued to work at the same time because I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do.”
At 23, Poole purchased the shop in Middlefield with the help of his family and friends, and has been a part of the business ever since.
Stan and Maggie Pierce first opened Maggie’s in East Cleveland. It was several years later that a spot opened up in Middlefield. In 1975, Ryan Naylor bought the shop from the Pierces and soon after, Poole began his journey with Maggie’s.
“(The doughnuts) are still handcrafted. That’s why my hands are still red today because I just came from there a little bit ago,” Poole said.
During weekdays, anywhere from 300 to 400 dozen doughnuts are put out. During the weekends, the numbers reach between 800 or 900 dozen.
“It’s been a growing business throughout the years and with Alissa now going to own this one here, it’s going to be our seventh location,” Poole said.
In 2009, Maggie’s opened its second location in Harrington Square Mall in Middlefield, and now has locations in Madison, Hiram, Chardon, Orwell and Geneva. Plus there may be a possible location coming to Parkman.
Poole believes that not only do the handcrafted doughnuts keep customers coming back to Maggie’s, but the friendly service as well.
Even though the business can be “a real pain” at times, his favorite part is the number of people he has gotten to know.
“(Alissa) and I just got done working a very busy Saturday, and even though we looked at each other at times like, ‘Whoa,’ we were happy with what we accomplished, how many doughnuts we sold and how many faces walked out with smiles,” he said.
Much like Poole, Hogue has taken an interest in the operation over the last few years, and has had a front row seat to watch how things are done and how her father has done them.
“We’ve talked for days, weeks and months about this,” Poole said. “She’s wanting to give it a try and see how it works out. If she can handle it, enjoy it and make a good living doing it, I’m hoping she can take it over at some point and time. I’m happy and proud, and many other adjectives I can throw out there.”
Much like her father, Hogue started working for Maggie’s when she was 14 throughout the summers and on weekends during the school year. She has had experience in the delivery route, filling and frosting doughnuts, selling doughnuts, writing checks and the payroll.
“I’m definitely excited,” she said. “I’ve had so many ideas for doughnuts and at the main location, a lot of times they’re too busy to even think about doing specialty doughnuts or whatever else. At this location, since it’s my store, I can request things. I’m excited for that.”
Hogue’s younger brother attends school in Chardon, which was a big push for her to look into moving to the area. When she saw the location at 301 Center St., she “fell in love.”
“I walked through the place and could picture everything,” Hogue recalled. “I drew up an entire sketch of the place and it has not changed one bit. It’s exactly how I said I was going to put it.”
Poole believes his daughter will be able to give another perspective of the business and make other pursuits in not just the variety of doughnuts, but bringing something fresh to the business.
“It was kind of strange how it came about. (Alissa) and I were up on the square (Chardon Square), and we were going to go to the Square Bistro,” Poole said. “They weren’t open until 4 p.m., so we said let’s walk up and down the sidewalk, and look at these shops.”
After walking into one of the shops, the owner took note of Poole’s Maggie’s shirt.
“She goes, ‘Maggie’s Donuts. I need you guys here in Chardon. You were here 25 years ago,'” Poole recalled. “We used to be right next to El Patron’s. The next day, I got a message from a Realtor and he pointed this out. We came and looked, and was like, ‘Yep. We can make something work here.’ ”
The location on Center Street was completely renovated from its ceiling to the floors. Poole is hoping that it will be open by the end of this week. For updates on days and hours, Hogue encourages those to check its Facebook page at Maggie’s Donut Shop & Cafe.
“What I’ve realized with Maggie’s is that it doesn’t have to be a large city,” Poole said. “You just need people to know who you are and enjoy your product because they will return. It could be a grandfather and a grandma with their grandkids, and those grandparents were at Maggie’s. It’s becoming a tradition.”
