Business spotlight - Village Donut Shop and Bakery - By Michelle Libby

In an old machine repair shop sits one of the hidden gems in Raymond, the Village Donut Shop and
Bakery, with its sweet and savory delights for locals and commuters. Bruce Wiley worked in a donut shop as a teenager and never forgot the personal experience of serving donuts with a side of hot coffee.

“It was in the back of my mind all these years. It’s time to make the donuts,” he said. The shop opened in 2013 and became an almost overnight hit. He spent his off time searching for equipment. “I didn’t have to buy it (right then) so I got good deals,” he said. With some thought on traffic patterns and locations, he settled on the perfect spot, 1246 Roosevelt Trail in Raymond. He and his family took five months to get the space ready. As a construction worker for 30 years, Bruce worked outside in the cold and dirt. He knew how important it was for the community to have a place to pick up a hot coffee and a baked good.

“His dream was to be open early in the morning when contractors are traveling. They pick up a cup of coffee and something quick to eat in their car on the way to their next job,” said Bruce’s mother, Carolyn Wiley. “Then the ladies come in and retired families. The offerings change as the day goes on.” 

The first wave of customers come in right after they open to pick up fresh donuts made in the shop overnight by Bruce’s brother Todd Wiley and baker Theresa Egan. Theresa’s scones and apple fritter donuts sell out before noon. The scones are very popular, Bruce said. “Even people from England say it’s the best they’ve ever had.” 

The business is very family-oriented with Bruce’s mother, Carolyn, and father, Dean, spending a lot of time working. Carolyn bakes on Mondays and Tuesdays, often different selections from the rest of the week. 

Village Donut is very community focused and donates to local churches and schools. “The community has been so good to us,” Bruce said. He works with summer camps, hospitals, Saint Joseph’s College and other businesses. 

New hours have begun for the shop, with increased winter hours to cater to the locals. With the longer hours, Village Donut will now offer soups, stews, chowders and lunch specials like chili, pigs in a blanket, sloppy joes and chicken pot pies, single and family servings. They will be baking bread and having that available as well. Crunched for time? Someone could stop in, pick up a meal, bread and a dessert and not have to worry about cooking that night. 

 

The donuts draw people in, but the scones and muffins, coffee cakes and whoopie pies keep them coming back, Bruce said.  

Village Donut doesn’t keep around day old donuts, choosing to donate them to senior home and senior meals in the area. “We try to make use of them. We’re too Yankee to throw things away,” said Carolyn.

This fall the Village Donut is taking pie and platter orders for holiday meals or parties. Large or small, they take special requests with 24 hour notice. They also do cakes, but nothing fancy, Bruce said. 

The working team includes Todd, Theresa, Sarah Paul, Terry Daily, Diana Burrington, Mom and Dad and Bruce. “Everyone is glad to be here,” Bruce said. Even after they leave the shop, people notice them. One man followed Todd in the grocery store, turned to Carolyn and said, “Boy he smells good. I’d follow him anywhere.” 

On Thanksgiving stop by to experience all the Village Donut Shop and Bakery has to off or visit them for their annual tradition of free coffee and donut in the morning. They will have bread and rolls available first come, first serve. To guarantee they have what is needed for dinner, call ahead. Many times when regulars are going to be late to the shop, they call to ask to have something set aside for them, said Carolyn. 

Soon Bridgton will know the delights of Village Donut Shop and Bakery when Bruce opens a shop there. 

Bruce wanted to throw out a thank you to Chris for helping the shop get started in Raymond.

Village Donut is on Facebook or to place an order, call 655-4444.