<img class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual" src="https://display.blogto.com/articles/20190201-GloryHoleDonut7.jpg?w=1200&amp;cmd=resize_then_crop&amp;height=630&amp;quality=70&amp;format=jpeg" width="100%" /><p>A Toronto donut shop known in equal measures for its salacious name as its tasty treats will be closing down for good this summer, as its founder pursues a new direction.</p><p>It's been a storied run for Toronto's <a href="https://www.blogto.com/bakery/glory-hole-doughnuts-gerrard-toronto/">Glory Hole Doughnuts</a>, which, over the past 14 years, has earned itself not only an evangelical community support base but a reputation for being one of the city's best doughnut shops &mdash; if not&nbsp;<em>the&nbsp;</em>best.</p><p>Despite the popularity that the shop's various locations have sustained over the years, though, operating a small business always comes with its fair share of difficulties,&nbsp;a reality that owner Ashley Jacot&nbsp;de Boinod has never shied away from sharing.</p><p>From highs like expanding from their original Parkdale space to new locations in Harbord Village, Little India and a pop-up in the Eaton Centre to more challenging moments like <a href="https://www.blogto.com/eat_drink/2022/03/glory-hole-doughnuts-parkdale-closing/">closing down</a> the aforementioned Parkdale shop&nbsp;and <a href="https://www.blogto.com/eat_drink/2024/09/toronto-donut-shop-struggling/">getting candid</a> about the difficulty of maintaining a business in a post-Covid world, Glory Hole's story has been quite the rollercoaster.</p><p>Amid the ups and downs, one thing has always consistent: some damn good doughnuts.</p><p>Unfortunately for the enthusiastic cult following Ashley has amassed over the past near decade-and-a-half, there's still one last surprise in store, as Ashley recently took to the business's Instagram account to announce that she'll be closing the doughnut shop down permanently in three months.</p><blockquote class="instagram-media"><div style="padding: 16px;"><div style="display: flex;"><div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; 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font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Glory Hole Doughnuts - What Creams Are Made Of (@ghdoughnuts)</a></p></div></blockquote><p>"I have decided through years of reflection that in three months' time, I will be closing Glory Hole Doughnuts permanently," Ashley announces in the video.</p><p>"It has been a wild and amazing 14 years of my life, and I couldn't be more thankful to any and everyone who has come through our doors," she adds.</p><p>Ashley tells me that the choice to say goodbye to Glory Hole Doughnuts was certainly not easy, but several factors led her to the conclusion that this decision would ultimately be the right one.</p><p><b>"Over the last 5 years, a lot has changed for me personally," Ashley tells me.&nbsp;"My partner and I chose to move out of the city to rural living just before the pandemic. I've also had 2 beautiful children in that time frame, so, as you can imagine, life has been busy for us."</b></p><p><b>Founding Glory Hole Doughnuts at the "tender and supple" age of 26, Ashley, now on the cusp of 40, tells me that she's simply realized that, as much as she loves the doughnut shop, it's time to lay it to rest.</b></p><p><b>"I don't want to be like <em>The Simpsons</em> and not know when to quit," she adds.</b></p><p>Couple that with the all-too-common struggles of razor-thin profit margins and accelerating costs in the food industry, and Ashley had her answer.</p><p><b>"Doughnuts are simply too expensive to make. Simple as that," she tells me.&nbsp;"People truly don't realize what it takes to make a doughnut that doesn't get extruded by a robot. It's early mornings, a lot of muscle, time, and a huge amount of money."</b></p><p>Even with all of the early mornings and sunk costs, the past 14 years have been utterly rewarding, Ashley tells me.</p><p><b>"I've loved the people. Whether it be our teams or our customers,&nbsp;or industry folk I've met through this, they have all helped shape what we have become," she says.</b></p><p><b>"Some moments that will always be near and dear to me are having a really busy service on a Saturday in Parkdale, selling out, and turning up Dance Mix 95 and just letting go with the staff."</b></p><p>While the doughnut business is coming to an end, Ashley is about to start a new chapter herself, as she prepares to embark on an entirely new project, the details of which are under wraps for now.</p><p>In the meantime, Ashley's message for Glory Hole lovers across the city is simple: "<b>Keep supporting the little guys. Our city is changing at a rapid pace. [...] Eat meaningfully, in the moment with love. This is a crucial time in history. It's no longer about that 'money shot'&nbsp;and views. We need to stand up for what we all know is true. Be thankful that we aren't being bombed,&nbsp;be gentle and squishy (strong back, soft front), seek out real connection, come into shops, avoid delivery apps!"</b></p><p>Let's not get ahead of ourselves, though; Glory Hole Doughnuts is still here and operating business as usual for the next three months, wrapping up operations around July, so you still have plenty of time to treat yourself or someone you love to a Glory Hole Doughnut. And you should, because they're really, really good.</p><p>Glory Hole Doughnuts is located at 1505 Gerrard East.</p>