When Toni Hinrichs was looking for a new career that would bring her enjoyment she didn’t imagine her shift starting at 1 a.m., but such is life in the donut business.
“We work in the middle of the night because that is when donuts are made,” Hinrichs stated. “They are the best right after they are made.
“I wanted to own a business and I wanted it to be fun. Donuts tend to be happy food. People aren’t usually grumpy when they come to get a donut.”
At least they aren’t when they leave.
Paradise Donuts opened in April 2011 at 500 N. Dixieland Road in Rogers. Nine months later came its Bella Vista store at 10 Cunningham Corner, formerly occupied by Daylight Donuts.
“I wasn’t intending on having a second location but the opportunity presented itself, so we bought the building,” Hinrichs said.
Paradise Donuts truly is a family business, as four of its six employees are related to Hinrichs.
The staff operates a regular routine of mixing, frying and decorating.
The menu includes all the classics donuts — glazed, cake, old-fashioned, long john, twist, rosettes and holes.
Depending on the day and time, there are 12-18 items other than donuts.
Frequent features include cinnamon rolls, fried pies and turnovers, creme horns, strawberry and cream cheese strudel, muffins, bear claws and apple fritters.
Paradise Donuts also offers sausage rolls that are house-made and baked fresh daily. Biscuits and gravy also are available, along with sausage pockets that are made with crumbled sausage, sausage gravy, cheese and seasoning all wrapped in unsweetened donut dough and baked until golden brown.
Customers can wash it all down with a French vanilla or white chocolate caramel cappuccino, hot chocolate or Farmer Brother’s coffee. There is also chocolate or strawberry milk and juice boxes.
More information is available online at paradisedonutsnwa.com. Phone numbers are (479) 899-6865 in Rogers and (479) 876-5639 in Bella Vista.