- November 20, 2024
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Here's the latest buzz on the beachside: Swillerbees Craft Donuts is coming to Ormond.
The Flagler Beach doughnut and coffee shop is opening a third location in the former Donnie's Donuts space at 200 E. Granada Blvd, which has been vacant since January.
Palm Coast resident Dakota Wehde — who co-owns Swillerbees with his parents, Mike and Holly Wehde — said the expansion into Ormond Beach felt like a "God thing." Soon after the owners of Donnie's Donuts closed their Ormond location and consolidated operations at One Daytona, Wehde said they were approached by the landlords, who felt Swillerbees would be a good fit for the space.
"We felt like that was a partnership that really made sense," Wehde said. "If we were ever going to move into Ormond, it seemed like that would be the time and place for us to do it."
The Wehdes took over Swillerbees three years ago. Last year, they opened a second location at 85 Cypress Point Parkway in Palm Coast.
It's been an exciting venture, Wehde said. He and his parents also own the Waffle Cone ice cream shop in Flagler Beach, which has a second location in Jacksonville.
Prior to taking over Swillerbees, Wehde worked for Germfree Laboratories in Ormond Beach. However, as he and his wife started their family — they now have two sons — and the job demanded more travel out of state, Wehde decided to head in a different direction, career wise.
And that direction led him to a "hole" lot of doughnuts.
Since taking over Swillerbees, the shop has gone from producing about 200 doughnuts a day to 1,800 to 2,000 daily, he said. Any leftover doughnuts are regularly donated to local businesses, police and fire departments, hospitals and shelters.
Swillerbees' arrival in Ormond Beach is being met with "overwhelming support and excitement," Wehde said. They recently participated in Taste of Ormond and received positive reactions from attendees.
"Obviously, Donnie's was very loved in the community and it seemed like everyone knew who they were and where they were," Wehde said. "... It definitely seems like we're filling a gap that was left by Donnie's there, in a good way."
Wehde said he and his parents are hoping to open the Ormond location in July.
"When we come into a community, we want you to feel like when you come into our business, you're part of our family," Wehde said. "We want you feeling loved, valued and known when you leave. We're here to bring light to the community and love people and show the love of Christ to people."
