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Parlor Doughnuts, a craft donut and coffee shop, has its grand opening Saturday, March 29, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The locally-owned donut franchise is at 351 E. Bay St. in downtown Lakeland, diagonally across the street from the police station.
After the opening, the shop will be open Monday-Sunday from 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The goods: Parlor Doughnuts is known for its “layered doughnut, which sets it apart from the traditional cake or yeast style,” according to its website.
It’s a recent brand, with franchises popping up across the country in the South, Midwest, West, and Pennsylvania.
The donuts are made fresh throughout the day and are customizable. They come with a variety of glaze or topping flavors, such as cookies n’ cream, bourbon caramel, and strawberry shortcake. There are also fillings such as raspberry jelly and coconut cream.
Lakeland franchise co-owner and General Manager Justin Williams, 32, said his favorite glaze is french toast.
The Prices: Donuts are $3.45 each, $29.40 a dozen. Mini donuts are 65 cents, $4.95 for 10 (mix and match).
It’s not just donuts: The donut parlor also serves coffee, and specialty lattes such as Mayan Mocha, which is a mocha latte with a hint of cinnamon.
It also offers kombucha, teas, breakfast sandwiches and acai bowls.
According to its menu, the donut shop also caters to people with dietary restrictions, offering sugar-free and low-carb donuts, vegan and gluten-friendly donuts, alternative milks such as oat and coconut milk for its specialty drinnks, and even dog doughnuts.
The living room: When you walk into the parlor, it feels like a 1950s living room that you’d see on television with an open floor plan and Lakeland-themed murals on the walls.
“The parlor is … where you break bread and talk about life and create community. When people come here, I want them to feel like they have a place where they matter,” Williams said.
There’s also an outdoor patio.
The parlor doesn’t have its own parking lot. It will rely on spaces available on the street, similar to other downtown businesses.
Like a different era: Williams said they began the renovation project in October 2023.
“I love Lakeland. This town has caught my eye for years. I really love the history aspect of downtown. It makes me feel like we’re in a different era,” he said.
Williams is a father of two young children. He liked Lakeland so much, he and his wife, Nikki, moved their family here in 2025.
Williams initially came to Lakeland when he met with interns for the non-profit The Plate Project, which his parents founded and where he serves as vice president; the interns attended Southeastern University.
Williams said he was “overwhelmed” by Lakeland’s arts scene.
“Lakeland seems to honor the arts. I love the diversity, what Lakeland offers,” he said.
Williams’ dad, Reeser, who is also one of his investors, is from Jacmel, Haiti, a city known worldwide for its vibrant arts scene and Carnival celebrations.
Williams said through the non-profit, they feed Haitians and Haitian refugees and are expanding their mission work to Brazil. Williams said he also is hoping to partner with a local organization to assist the homeless community in Lakeland.
Born in Arizona, and having moved all over, he attended the University of Southern Indiana, where he became familiar with the Parlor Doughnuts brand.
He said he went on to become part owner of the Parlor Doughnuts location in Venice, and said he’s also invested in the locations opening in Siesta Key and Largo. He said he is also part-owner of the location in Clearwater Beach, which opened in March of 2024.
“I will have five open by the end of 2025,” Williams explained, adding that he hopes to open another location in either Winter Haven or South Lakeland.
Founders Darrick Hayden and Josh Tudela opened the first Parlor Doughnuts in February of 2019 in Evansville, Indiana.
“The community’s support exploded, exceeding all expectations,” the brand’s website reads, leading Hayden to pursue franchising the business a few years later.
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