Bakery has same sweet treats, new name, owner

It’s been pretty much business as usual at a longtime family-owned Otis Orchards doughnut shop.

Seemingly.

Some 200 dozen doughnuts of varying shapes and tempting flavors are created daily. About 90 percent are delivered to convenience stations, coffee stands and two hospital cafeterias across the Inland Northwest. And at noontime, the day’s remaining doughnuts sell for half price to make way for the freshest ones. (Regular price is $6 per dozen.)

But big changes have occurred: new name, new managers, and new family ownership. Bigger changes are on the way.

“This is very much a mom and pop operation,” says ScrumDiddilyUmptious Donuts General Manager Delphine O’Reilly. “My uncle bought the business in February.”

Terry Holmes and his wife, Marcine, of Montana, purchased Something Sweet Donut House from founder and 25-year-owner Len Soper, who retired to spend more time with family.

Holmes is an entrepreneur with several businesses across the country. The doughnut shop is his first retail business. He spends part of each year visiting family in the area, and it was at the recommendation and encouragement of the shop’s longtime doughnut master and Holmes’ uncle, Ike Langton, that he became familiar with the purchase opportunity.

Langton continues to make doughnuts at the shop that boasts recipes used and perfected over the past 25 years – including the one to make the signature Peanut Butter Square. His son and longtime employee, Ken Langton, is the delivery manager.

As daily operations continue with batters, glazes and frostings made from scratch, and doughnuts created, decorated and mostly delivered by 2 a.m., preparations are being made for the bigger changes.

By year’s end, ScrumDiddilyUmptious Donuts will relocate to 1201 N. Barker Road to a building twice the size, at 2,500 square feet, and with easy access to Interstate 90.

Although they tried to figure out a way to make the longtime location work for their expansion plans, O’Reilly says the move is necessary to accommodate twice the amount of doughnut-making equipment.

Delivery into Idaho recently was added and they hope to continue increasing their delivery routes to include such companies as real estate and insurance offices. The new location also will allow for an updated and larger coffee shop as well as a drive-up window for customers on the go.

“There’s a lot of possibilities that open up at the new space,” O’Reilly added.