'Everybody has a sweet tooth': Doughnut shops are engrained in Wilson County
Doughnuts: Tasty and uncomplicated. Social and comfortable.
Across Wilson County, you can find these sweet mood lifters at businesses, religious services, classrooms and special events. Classic glaze. Doughnut holes with fruity fillings. Chocolate and strawberry doughnuts with sprinkles.
“Everybody has a sweet tooth,” said John Khoury of the Mt. Juliet Donut Shop. Nearby, regular customer Kathy Blevins purchased doughnuts, hoping to get Khoury’s Peanut Butter Cream recipe.
Here are some of the leading makers for a lot of mornings in Wilson County.
Mt. Juliet Donut Shop, 286 Nonaville Road, Mt. Juliet: The shop was opened by the late Nader Khoury in 2021 — after Khoury established Gourmet Donuts and Café in Mt. Juliet, which he sold in 2020. The Apple Fritter, Boston Cream and classic glaze doughnuts are best-sellers. Chocolate and strawberry doughnuts with sprinkles are especially popular with kids. Several flavor fillings are also available. All doughnuts and icing are made from scratch. On Saturdays, a lot of specialty doughnuts and foods are created. Nader Khoury's cousin, John Khoury, who used to own Shipley Donuts in Donelson, now operates the business and does all the cooking. John Khoury estimates around 3,000 doughnuts are sold on weekends, with large demands from church groups. A picture of Nader Khoury is displayed in the store.
Gourmet Donuts and Café, 3993 B N. Mt. Juliet Road, Mt. Juliet: Tony Chou now owns and operates this establishment, which offers “every kind of doughnut,” including a number of glaze and filling options. Cake doughnuts include blueberry, strawberry, devils food, apple spice and vanilla. The shop also offers a drive-in.
Donut Time, 102 Hartmann Drive Ste C, Lebanon: Apple fritter doughnuts are popular — they're made daily with real apples. Also popular is a pine cone doughnut with cinnamon that pulls apart. There are a variety of cake doughnuts, breakfast croissants and kolaches — a bread-based wrap around meat. Owners Joanna and Von Scott have locations at 3195 S. Mt. Juliet Road in Mt. Juliet and 2207 Hobson Pike in Davidson County. Joanna’s father, Randy Mean, started Donut Time nearly 11 years ago.
Donut Palace, 175 Tennessee Blvd, Lebanon: Preparation for fresh doughnuts starts at 3 a.m. Red velvet, blueberry and apple fritter doughnuts are all big sellers as customers order inside the store and in the drive-thru. Doughnuts also come with a variety of hole fillings that can include raspberry, custard, lemon and white frosting flavors. Croissants and a variety of cakes are also sold at the location. Donut Palace was launched about 20 years ago by So Sith. Grandson Kenny Sith now owns Donut Palace and is the cook. Pearl Sullivan is the manager.
Dunkin’ Donuts: The national brand has four locations in Wilson County, two in Lebanon, a new store in Mt. Juliet and one in Old Hickory. The chocolate frosted donut and Dunkin’ Munchkins donut holes are among popular options with a variety of coffees as well.
Slow Hand Bakehouse, 111 S. Greenwood, Lebanon: This new bakery, recently opened by Nick and Audra Guidry, doesn’t focus on doughnuts, other than the occasional cake doughnuts. But they do have cinnamon rolls, croissants and Danish pastries that often sell out. The business approach is classic techniques incorporated with a “fun appeal to our customers' childhood memories and overall happiness,” Audra Guidry said, "with a consistent effort to reimagine menu choices."
Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@tennessean.com or 615-726-5939 and on Twitter @ AndyHumbles.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: 'Everybody has a sweet tooth': Taste these Wilson County doughnuts
