NEW BEDFORD — "Ma's" is now "Grandma's."

The historic pastry shop has unveiled a new name, introduced a donut truck and has been quietly serving the community with backdoor pop-ups at its Acushnet Ave. location as it takes another big step closer to reopening.

"The experience trying to even get to where I’m at now has been a fun experience, but also very challenging," said Hannah Lemieux, 20, owner of Hannah's Kitchen and now Grandma's Donuts & Coffee Shop.

"The positivity and gratitude we receive from our customers makes it all worth it."

On July 2, 2016, New Bedford residents mourned the loss of Ma's Donuts when owners Ed and Sheila (the "grandma" in the name) Lemieux decided to retire.

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For the past three years, Hannah Lemieux has been been selling pastries, muffins, turnovers and cheese rolls out of her father's establishment, The Boat Restaurant. Lemieux is a fifth generation baker.

"As a kid I grew up watching my grandparents and parents work here and I’ve always had an interest in the food service industry," she said. "When my grandparents closed their doors in 2016, I just knew then that I didn’t want to see this business or their legacy go away."

In February 2021, Lemieux announced on social media that she was learning how to create her family's prized donuts and was preparing to reopen the shop. The announcement excited the SouthCoast community.

"Trying to learn this business from my grandfather and parents, while trying to be a single mom has been tough, but I’m starting to see the value of that struggle pay off now," she said.

“She's been doing it, learning from my father until she perfects a product,” said Scott Lemieux, Hannah's father, in a previous Standard-Times interview. “She doesn't want to sell a product until it's perfected... She's got a great heart and passion for this business.”

A sudden roadblock delays reopening

In May 2021, just before a planned reopening, the 66-year-old donut shop faced legal issues that postponed everything.

Ma's Donuts received a cease-and-desist from Ma’s Donuts and More in Middletown, Rhode Island, that claimed the copyright over the name "Ma's Donuts."

“It was just heartbreaking. It’s our family’s legacy,” said Scott Lemieux.

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“I do have a trademark. And that was done in 2017 while they were closed,” said the Middletown owner, Valdemar Leite, in a brief phone call with The Standard-Times in May, before quickly disconnecting.

“It doesn't matter what I call it… we could call it ‘No Name Donuts’…I could take the name off the building and the customers are still gonna call it Ma’s Donuts and they're still gonna show up." Scott Lemieux stated in a previous interview.

“It's not about money. It’s about the experience…the next generation.”

Trying to still serve donuts

Still, Hannah Lemieux started serving a limited amount of donuts through her online business, Hannah's Kitchen. Lemieux said each time, they would sellout the donuts almost immediately.

Word traveled fast, causing confusion that Ma's had reopened, and people starting to show up at the closed Acushnet Avenue site.

"Just to clear the air 'Ma’s Original' is not open yet," Lemieux wrote in a Facebook post on May 16. "We are still doing practice runs when I post, it is random and what I have is what I have for the day."

Finally, in August, a new Ma's Original Facebook page was created, with updates about a donut truck "in the works" and a reopening to follow.

They were soon hit with another hurdle. In September, the Middletown donut shop once again sued Lemieux over the "Ma's Original" name as a copyright infringement.

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"Our beloved donut shop can’t seem to get a break as they spend thousands and thousands in legal fees just to reopen their donut shop," writes Jenny Clark, a friend of Lemieux, who created a GoFundMe page to help.

"If they lose this battle not only do they have to come up with a new name a second time, pay all the legal bills but they have to redo the food truck and all advertising already paid for."

Middletown's Ma's Donuts did not respond to The Standard-Times for a comment.

Pop-ups invite big crowds

On Oct. 10, Lemieux posted on her Facebook page that she was offering donuts on a first-come, first-served basis at the back door of the original shop, every Sunday. Lemieux said her first pop-up was met with a big crowd and she sold out within the hour.

"I’ve learned no matter how many hours we put in here we can never make enough," Lemieux said with a laugh.

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Fans of the donut shop immediately took to social media. "Ma's is back" posted Ross Brown. "Childhood memories coming back after having these. Going to be an every Sunday thing as long as they have them!"

Hannah's Kitchen's Facebook page, on average, receives 150 to 200 comments and 600 to 800 likes per post about her donuts.

Ma's gets a new name

On Oct. 18, the Lemieux family lost their legal battle over the "Ma's Original" name. "We have again had to change the name of our establishment," wrote Hannah Lemieux on her page. "Please bear with us as we are doing our best in dealing with these hurdles and we now see some light at the end of the tunnel."

On Nov. 6, Lemieux hosted her first event introducing her donut truck and unveiling the shop's new name: Grandma's Donuts.

"I am so impressed by this whole renaming," posted Miriam Riding on Facebook. "that Logo!!! A very moving tribute, yet makes me smile. Great Job."

Lemieux drove the truck around New Bedford stopping at St. Luke's Hospital and the New Bedford Police Department.

Although the Ma's Acushnet Ave. location is still not officially open — except for the weekly pop-ups — Lemieux said she is working toward a more formal schedule soon. Meanwhile, if you see her truck, she encourages you to wave her down.

"We want this establishment to be a staple of the community for generations to come. We want all of our customers to know how much we love and appreciate all their support, and encouragement and most of all the love and loyalty," she said.

"We really want this place to be everyone’s go-to place for family treats and donuts."

Standard-Times staff writer Seth Chitwood can be reached at schitwood@s-t.com. Follow him on twitter: @ChitwoodReports. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Standard-Times today.

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Mas Donuts reopening, shares new name Grandma's Donuts and Coffee