Donut Crazy: From Opening To Fanfare To Locked Doors

CONNECTICUT — When Donut Crazy first launched in the state, customers came in droves to sample its unique doughnuts with flavors like Cannoli and Maple Bacon.

But now would-be customers are encountering locked doors instead of coffee and sweet treats.

Employees have lodged complaints with the state about not getting wages, and landlords have started eviction proceedings at two of the chain’s locations, signaling the chain’s financial distress.

The family-owned and operated business has created over 45 varieties of donuts daily, with the Food Network naming its Cannoli Donut the best donut in Connecticut, according to Donut Crazy’s website.

The Stratford-based business has been known for unique donuts with flavors like French Toast and Birthday Cake. It has also served cookies, scones, croissants, egg and cheese sandwiches, breakfast burritos and omelettes, according to its online menu.

The chain’s website still lists five locations, in West Hartford, Shelton, Westport, Stratford and New Haven.

The New Haven location made headlines in March, when the state Department of Revenue Services suspended the location’s license to do business for failure to comply with sales tax rules.

The phone numbers listed for the New Haven and West Hartford locations on the website were out of service as of Thursday. There was no answer at the Shelton, Westport or Stratford store numbers when Patch called multiple times this week.

In 2024, Donut Crazy shuttered locations in Fairfield and Branford.

On Wednesday morning, the Shelton eatery had no sign of activity during its regularly scheduled business hours. The sign is still at the restaurant, with equipment, chairs and Donut Crazy-related decor still visible. No donuts were visible on the shelves.

Donut Crazy Owner Jason Wojnarowski did not respond to multiple requests for comment on the status of his business, or whether any of the locations will be able to reopen.

As of Thursday, the last time the chain had posted on its Facebook page was in late February, when it advertised its Chocolate Strawberry Brownie donut.

The chain’s Stratford landlord, Marmac LLC, started eviction proceedings in court against Donut Crazy LLC in 2024, for nonpayment of rent for its Stratford location.

The town of Westport has initiated an eviction action against Donut Crazy LLC for the chain’s train station location at 1 Ferry Rd. for nonpayment of its $1,689 monthly rent. The eviction cases are ongoing.

Juliet Manalan, a spokesperson for the state Department of Labor, said this week the department’s Wage and Workplace Standards Division has received seven complaints related to Donut Crazy for non-payment of wages.

The department will conduct an investigation into the complaints, according to Manalan.

No Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN) notice has been filed with the department about layoffs at the business, according to Manalan, though she said the business might not reach the 100 full-time employee threshold to require one.