Homegrown District Doughnut Pursues Growth Opportunities

Local sweets maker District Doughnut is banking big on D.C.’s obsession with the circular treat, hunting for several thousand square feet of room to grow within the immediate area.

The Barracks Row doughnut shop is known for artfully designed treats like its pumpkin creme brulée. Last year it expanded across the city, opening up a new pop-up in Georgetown (3327 Cady's Alley NW). They’ve since migrated to Nationals Park as well.

On its current wish list: 500 to 1,500-square-foot retail sites and 2,000- to 5,000-square-foot commissary sites across the D.C. area, according to an email blast from real estate developer Miller Walker.

With all the doughnut action as of late, it appears there’s a new obsession in town; years ago, D.C.’s sweet tooth was largely focused on gourmet cupcakes.

Here’s a roundup of key players in the ever-growing market:

• B Doughnut debuted in Leesburg a few months ago.
• Philadelphia's Federal Doughnuts has an eye on breaking in D.C.
• Richmond's Sugar Shack has been on a speedy expansion track in Northern Virginia —a and Shaw’s location will open this month.
• Naughty Girls Donut Shop — a pinup-inspired sweets shop founded two years ago by a mother-daughter team — hopes to sprinkle itself across the U.S.
• D.C.’s Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken opened up shop in downtown LA this spring and hopes to plant additional shops elsewhere.