Difference between revisions of "Lerch's Donuts"

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m (Text replacement - "===Newspaper citations with no attached images===" to "")
 
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{{Current Contact Information
+
{{Organization
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| address=138 E. Liberty St.
+
|Organization name=Lerch's Donuts
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| city=Wooster
+
|Logo=6028211073_9bfa9124b1_z.jpg
−
| state=Ohio
+
|Industries={{Industry
−
| zip=44691
+
|Industry sector=Manufacturing
−
| phone=<ul><li>(330)669-3308</li><li>(330)669-3299</li></ul>
+
|Sub-Industry=Food Manufacturing
−
| contact=
+
}}{{Industry
−
| title=
+
|Industry sector=Accommodation and Food Services
−
| email=
+
|Sub-Industry=Food Services and Drinking Places
−
| updated=2016:04-14 OPEN
+
}}{{Industry
 +
|Industry sector=Retail
 +
|Sub-Industry=Food and Beverage Stores
 
}}
 
}}
 +
|Services=Donuts
 +
|Year Start=1932
 +
|Founded in city=Wooster
 +
|Founded in state=Ohio
 +
|Founders={{Founder
 +
|Name of person=John W. Lerch, Sr.
 +
}}{{Founder
 +
|Name of person=John Lerch, Jr.
 +
}}{{Founder
 +
|Name of person=Joe Snyder
 +
}}{{Founder
 +
|Name of person=Gail Snyder
 +
}}{{Founder
 +
|Name of person=[[John W. Lerch, Sr.]], 1932- ; Mary Jane "Jennie" Meyer
 +
}}
 +
|Status=Active
 +
|Locations={{Location
 +
|Is primary=Yes
 +
|Building number=138
 +
|Street=E. Liberty St.
 +
|City=Wooster
 +
|Township=Wooster
 +
|County=Wayne County
 +
|State=Ohio
 +
|Zipcode=44691
 +
|Country=United States
 +
|Is time bound=No
 +
}}
 +
|Start date=1932
 +
}}
 +
==Lerch Pastry Shop==
  
 +
==Lerch's Donuts==
  
−
{{Infobox company
+
==Quick Facts==
−
| name            = Lerch's Donuts
+
* 1932 - Business established according to John W. Lerch obituary
−
| logo            = [[File:6028211073_9bfa9124b1_z.jpg|400px]]
+
* 1933 - first year Lerch Pastry Shop appeared in Wooster High School Annual
−
| logo_caption    =
+
* 1934 - began producing Lerch's Donuts at [[Wayne County Fair]] in [[Wooster, Ohio]]
−
| image            =
+
* 1942 - last year appeared Lerch Pastry Shop in Wooster High School annual
−
| image_caption    =
+
* 1943 - last year appeared in Wooster City Directory as a baker
−
| trading_name    =
+
* 1956 - Trailer parked at [[Hawkins Market]] [[Portage Square Plaza]] during summer and fall month
−
| native_name      =
+
* 2009 - Celebrated 77 years of making donuts
−
| native_name_lang = <!-- Use ISO 639-1 code, e.g. "fr" for French. Enter multiple names in different languages using {{tl|lang}}, instead. -->
+
* 2009 - 75th anniversary at making donuts at the [[Wayne County Fair]] in [[Wooster, Ohio]]
−
| romanized_name  =
+
 
−
| former_name      =
+
==Newspaper articles==
−
| former type      =
+
====Sweet Success for 70-pluis Years: Popularity Keeps Growing====
−
| type            = Doughnut Shops
+
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]].
−
| traded_as        =
+
 
−
| industry        = [[Accommodation & Food Services]]
+
The arrangement with Earl Hawkins began with a simple handshake and is "still in force," said Lerch's owner Joe Snyder.
−
| fate            = [[Active]]
+
 
−
| predecessor      =
+
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.
−
| successor        =
+
 
−
| foundation      = [[Wooster, Ohio]] ({{Start date|1932}})
+
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.
−
| founder          = [[John Lerch, Sr.]], 1932-
+
 
−
| defunct          = <!-- {{End date|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->
+
"(John Lerch Jr.) actually bought the first trailer," Snyder said.
−
| location_city    = original bakery? [[E. Liberty St., Wooster, Ohio|138 E. Liberty St.]], [[Portage Square Plaza]], [[Wooster, Ohio]], [[Wayne County Fair]], [[Wooster, Ohio]], [[Ashland, Ohio]], [[Ashland County Fair]], [[Lowe's Plaza]]
+
 
−
| location_country = United States
+
Previously, the donut enterprise had been housed in everything from a tent to a converted school bus.
−
| locations        = 3
+
 
−
| area_served      = [[Wayne County, Ohio]]
+
In the 1950s, Lerch's donuts began serving its product out of the building next to the grandstand on the [[Wayne County Fairgrounds]].
−
| key_people      = [[John Lerch, Jr.]] (1995), [[Joe Snyder]] (1995), [[Gail Snyder]] (1995)
+
 
−
| products        = Donuts
+
When the junior Lerch introduced the first trailer, his plan was "to do the fair circuit," Snyder said.
−
| brands          =
+
 
−
| production      =
+
But after one rainy day of selling donuts in Columbus, Snyder said, the younger Lerch decided, "I can do better in Wayne County."
−
| services        =
+
 
−
| revenue          =
+
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."
−
| operating_income =
+
 
−
| net_income      =
+
During that week, 50 employees rotate through a 24-hour-a-day schedule.
−
| aum              = <!-- Only for financial services companies -->
+
 
−
| assets          =
+
At 3 a.m., business may be a little slow, Snyder said, but by 4 a.m. "it picks up again."
−
| equity          =
+
 
−
| owner            =
+
"We have a great working relationship with the fair," he said, which earns a portion of the business's profits.
−
| num_employees    =
+
 
−
| parent          =
+
"The better we do, the better they do," he said, adding, "They tell me I'm the No. 1 food vendor there."
−
| divisions        =
+
 
−
| subsid          =
+
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.
−
| homepage        = {{URL|lerchsdonuts.com}}
+
 
−
| footnotes        =
+
Lerch's Donuts has its own recipe, which has been used for 82 years, Snyder said. "We're in our 83rd."
−
| intl            =
+
 
−
| bodystyle        =
+
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.
  
−
==Historical documents==
+
"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."
−
* 
 
  
−
==Slogans==
+
Reporter Linda Hall can be reached at 330-264-1125, Ext 2230 or lhall@the-daily-record.com. She is @lindahallTDR on Twitter. <ref>Sweet Success for 70-plus Years: Popularity Keeps Growing. Linda Hall. Daily Record, Wooster, Ohio. 2016 June 16.</ref>
−
* 
 
  
−
==Timeline==
+
===Newspaper ads===
−
===WWI & Great Depression, 1914-1933===
+
<gallery>
−
*  1932 - Opened
+
File:Lerch Pastry Shop Coshocton Tribune 3 Oct 1938 page 8.PNG|<Ref>Coshocton Tribune 3 Oct 1938, p. 8.</ref>
−
===The New Deal & WWII, 1933-1945===
+
File:Lerch Pastry Shop Orrville Courier Crescent 12 Oct 1939 page 3.PNG| <ref>Orrville Courier Crescent 12 Oct 1939, p. 3.</ref>
−
*  1934 - began producing Lerch's Donuts at [[Wayne County Fair]] in [[Wooster, Ohio]]
+
File:Lerch Pastry Shop Help Wanted Ad The Evening Independent Massillon 3 jan 1945 page 10.PNG|Help Wanted Ad. <ref> The Evening Independent Massillon 3 Jan 1945, p. 10.</ref>
−
===Postwar America, 1945-1960===
+
File:Lerch Pastry Shop Help Wanted Ad the Chronicle Telegram Elyria 4 Jan 1945 page 12.PNG|Help Wanted Ad. <ref>the Chronicle Telegram Elyria 4 Jan 1945, p. 12.</ref>
−
*  1956 - Trailer parked at [[Hawkins Market]] [[Portage Square Plaza]] during summer and fall month
+
File:Lerch Pastry Shop Help Wanted Ad Sandusky Register Star News 3 Jul 1945 page 9.PNG|Help Wanted Ad. <ref>Sandusky Register Star News 3 Jul 1945, p. 9.</ref>
−
===The Vietnam Era, 1960-1980===
+
File:Lerch Pastry Shop Help Wanted Ad Sandusky Register Star News 6 Jul 1945 page 10.PNG|Help Wanted Ad <ref>Sandusky Register Star News 6 Jul 1945, p. 10.</ref>
−
* 
+
File:Lerch Pastry Shop Coshocton Tribune Help Wanted Ad 26 Sep 1945 page 6.PNG|Help Wanted Ad. <ref>Coshocton Tribune. 26 Sep 1945, p. 6.</ref>
−
===End of the Century, 1980-2000===
+
</gallery>
−
*
 
−
===The New Millenium, 2001- ===
 
−
*  2009 - Celebrated 77 years of making donuts
 
−
*  2009 - 75th anniversary at making donuts at the [[Wayne County Fair]] in [[Wooster, Ohio]]
 
  
−
==Newspaper articles==
 
  
 +
{{Daily Record article
 +
| title = Mix 1 Ton Sugar, 2 Tons Shortening
 +
| year = 1971
 +
| month = 08
 +
| day = 24
 +
| page = {{Cite page|2}}
 +
| section = S
 +
| author = Melody [[Lawrence (surname)|Lawrence]]
 +
}}
  
−
==References==
 
 
<references />
 
<references />
  
−
[[Category:138 E. Liberty St., Wooster, Ohio]]
+
[[Category:Organizations]]
−
[[Category:Accommodation & Food Services businesses]]
 
−
[[Category:Accommodation & Food Services businesses (active)]]
 
−
[[Category:Accommodation & Food Services businesses in Ashland, Ohio]]
 
−
[[Category:Accommodation & Food Services businesses in Ashland, Ohio (active)]]
 
−
[[Category:Accommodation & Food Services businesses in Wayne Township, Wayne County, Ohio]]
 
−
[[Category:Accommodation & Food Services businesses in Wayne Township, Wayne County, Ohio (active)]]
 
−
[[Category:Accommodation & Food Services businesses in Wooster, Ohio]]
 
−
[[Category:Accommodation & Food Services businesses in Wooster, Ohio (active)]]
 
−
[[Category:Businesses established in 1930s]]
 
−
[[Category:Businesses in Ashland, Ohio]]
 
−
[[Category:Businesses in Wayne Township, Wayne County, Ohio]]
 
−
[[Category:Businesses in Wooster, Ohio]]
 
−
[[Category:Doughnut Shops]]
 
−
[[Category:Doughnut Shops (active)]]
 
−
[[Category:Doughnut Shops in Ashland, Ohio]]
 
−
[[Category:Doughnut Shops in Ashland, Ohio (active)]]
 
−
[[Category:Doughnut Shops in Wayne Township, Wayne County, Ohio]]
 
−
[[Category:Doughnut Shops in Wayne Township, Wayne County, Ohio (active)]]
 
−
[[Category:Doughnut Shops in Wooster, Ohio]]
 
−
[[Category:Doughnut Shops in Wooster, Ohio (active)]]
 
−
[[Category:Lerch's Donuts]]
 

Latest revision as of 15:46, 13 February 2023

.....


. ...

6028211073 9bfa9124b1 z.jpg
About
Name
  • Lerch's Donuts
Retail
  • Food and Beverage Stores
Manufacturing
  • Food Manufacturing
Accommodation and Food Services
  • Food Services and Drinking Places
Services
  • Donuts
Facts
Founded
  • 1932
    Wooster,Ohio
Related
Key Persons
Founders
Location
    • 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

  • [2]

  • [3]

  • Help Wanted Ad. [4]

  • Help Wanted Ad. [5]

  • Help Wanted Ad. [6]

  • Help Wanted Ad [7]

  • Help Wanted Ad. [8]


  1. ↑ Sweet Success for 70-plus Years: Popularity Keeps Growing. Linda Hall. Daily Record, Wooster, Ohio. 2016 June 16.
  2. ↑ Coshocton Tribune 3 Oct 1938, p. 8.
  3. ↑ Orrville Courier Crescent 12 Oct 1939, p. 3.
  4. ↑ The Evening Independent Massillon 3 Jan 1945, p. 10.
  5. ↑ the Chronicle Telegram Elyria 4 Jan 1945, p. 12.
  6. ↑ Sandusky Register Star News 3 Jul 1945, p. 9.
  7. ↑ Sandusky Register Star News 6 Jul 1945, p. 10.
  8. ↑ Coshocton Tribune. 26 Sep 1945, p. 6.
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