Lerch's Donuts
.....
. ...
- Name
- Lerch's Donuts
- Retail
- Food and Beverage Stores
- Manufacturing
- Food Manufacturing
- Accommodation and Food Services
- Food Services and Drinking Places
- Services
- Donuts
- Founded
- 1932
Wooster,Ohio
- Founders
- John W. Lerch, Sr.
- Gail Snyder
- Joe Snyder
- [[John W. Lerch, Sr., 1932- ; Mary Jane "Jennie" Meyer]]
- John Lerch, Jr.
- 138 E. Liberty St., Wooster, Ohio, United States
Lerch Pastry Shop
Lerch's Donuts
Quick Facts
- 1932 - Business established according to John W. Lerch obituary
- 1933 - first year Lerch Pastry Shop appeared in Wooster High School Annual
- 1934 - began producing Lerch's Donuts at Wayne County Fair in Wooster, Ohio
- 1942 - last year appeared Lerch Pastry Shop in Wooster High School annual
- 1943 - last year appeared in Wooster City Directory as a baker
- 1956 - Trailer parked at Hawkins Market Portage Square Plaza during summer and fall month
- 2009 - Celebrated 77 years of making donuts
- 2009 - 75th anniversary at making donuts at the Wayne County Fair in Wooster, Ohio
Newspaper articles
Sweet Success for 70-pluis Years: Popularity Keeps Growing
WOOSTER-- It's a welcome sight in a number of locations, including its permanent one eight months out of the year at Portage Square Plaza, the site of the former Hawkins Market.
The arrangement with Earl Hawkins began with a simple handshake and is "still in force," said Lerch's owner Joe Snyder.
Over the years, Lerch's Donuts has not lost its popularity; and its traditional sugar, cinnamon and plain donuts remain favorites, while more recent offerings -- blue berry and pumpkin -- have gained seasonal appeal.
In 195, Snyder bought the business, which began in the Lerch family in 1932 when it was founded by John Lerch, Sr. His leadership was followed by that of John Lerch, Jr. who took it over in 1950.
"(John Lerch Jr.) actually bought the first trailer," Snyder said.
Previously, the donut enterprise had been housed in everything from a tent to a converted school bus.
In the 1950s, Lerch's donuts began serving its product out of the building next to the grandstand on the Wayne County Fairgrounds.
When the junior Lerch introduced the first trailer, his plan was "to do the fair circuit," Snyder said.
But after one rainy day of selling donuts in Columbus, Snyder said, the younger Lerch decided, "I can do better in Wayne County."
In fact, one third of Lerch's annual sales are accrued in the six days of the Wayne County Fair, where employees go through "literally tons of sugar and shortening" and make "thousands of dozens of donuts."
During that week, 50 employees rotate through a 24-hour-a-day schedule.
At 3 a.m., business may be a little slow, Snyder said, but by 4 a.m. "it picks up again."
"We have a great working relationship with the fair," he said, which earns a portion of the business's profits.
"The better we do, the better they do," he said, adding, "They tell me I'm the No. 1 food vendor there."
While Lerch's donuts trailer do rotate among a number of fairs and festivals, he said, "We're best known in Wayne County," even though, licensed for "anywhere in Ohio," they travel, for example, to Cleveland.
Lerch's Donuts has its own recipe, which has been used for 82 years, Snyder said. "We're in our 83rd."
The donuts are made by hand, he said, pointing out, an automated system wouldn't fit in the space available and wouldn't make a sufficient number of donuts.
When a Lerch's donut craving hits, a patron may use the schedule on the company website to pinpoint within 6 feets of the trailer on any given day.
At this time, four mobile concession trailers circulate among a variety of venues.
"This is the newest one," Snyder said recently from the parking lot of Lowe's Home Improvement in Wooster.
What Snyder loves most if the loyalty of customers who may be sentimental about Lerch's product.
One came to the fair all the way from his new home in Florida, telling Snyder he was "reliving (his) childhood."
"You can't buy that kind of publicity," Snyder said.
"We're just really blessed," he said. "We want to keep it up another 80 years."
"It won't go away," Snyder said.
"It was an honor and a privilege for me to nominate Lerch's Donuts for the Small Business of the Year award," said Greg Long.
"I consider them to be an institution in Wayne County and one of the most widely known and loved businesses," Long said. "Their donuts and waffles are enjoyed by many and sought out when returning to Wayne County for a visit."
Reporter Linda Hall can be reached at 330-264-1125, Ext 2230 or lhall@the-daily-record.com. She is @lindahallTDR on Twitter. [1]
Newspaper ads
- August 24, 1971: "Mix 1 Ton Sugar, 2 Tons Shortening" by Melody Lawrence, The Daily Record, p. 2.
- ↑ Sweet Success for 70-plus Years: Popularity Keeps Growing. Linda Hall. Daily Record, Wooster, Ohio. 2016 June 16.
- ↑ Coshocton Tribune 3 Oct 1938, p. 8.
- ↑ Orrville Courier Crescent 12 Oct 1939, p. 3.
- ↑ The Evening Independent Massillon 3 Jan 1945, p. 10.
- ↑ the Chronicle Telegram Elyria 4 Jan 1945, p. 12.
- ↑ Sandusky Register Star News 3 Jul 1945, p. 9.
- ↑ Sandusky Register Star News 6 Jul 1945, p. 10.
- ↑ Coshocton Tribune. 26 Sep 1945, p. 6.