John Do-nut Company

314-241-3360

Hours: midnight til 1:00pm

(Isn't that clever? Sell donuts
while making them...fresh and
warm...mm-mmm)
Closed Sundays

I was talking with my new friend Joe who works at the Hi-Pointe.
 I don't know Joe very well, but I'm learning about some of his interests.
He likes donuts and he likes to bike.  

 On the night of the full moon he and many of his friends take a long moonlight ride all over St. Louis.
It is their custom to pause at a favorite bar to refresh before the ride home.  On this particular night their favorite spot was closed.

In need of an alternative, they decided to get donuts.

"Did you go to Johnny's?" I guessed. 

 And I was right.

Bill, Will, Micha and I had investigated "John Donut Company" a few weeks ago with a thorough sampling of their many varieties.    

You are going to love this place!

Almost in the shadow of the Arch is this little shop of donuts.

Those of you who have followed this blog know I can approach sentimental romanticism when it comes to our small business heroes.
 Johnny doesn't have time for sentimentality.
  
He has been making donuts and breads since he was a boy. He knows it is just hard work, with long hot hours, often requiring a second job to simply make ends meet.  When he's not here, he's baking at a local hospital, making it possible for us to enjoy the hidden treasure behind these doors.

When you visit John's you must allow time to savor the atmosphere.

There are 

all sorts 

of sassy signs on the walls,

 some murals,

and Superman is

everywhere, 

he's everywhere.

So how did the superman collection begin?

Aw, there's a story.  John comes from a family of St. Louis bakers.  At one point his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Pearey, moved to Metropolis, Illinois to be near some of their family. They opened a little bakery.

Here is a picture of them in front of their pastry shop.

 I'm not sure how these things evolve.  Something about coming from Metropolis,
the home of Superman, 

has inspired John's adoring customers to bring him all things Superman related.
It's a way to say thanks to John for making such delicious treats.

Now that you've taken in the surroundings and enjoyed the local color,

let's get serious.

Whether you have them with milk or juice

or coffee or tea,

the real reason you've come is:

 donuts!!

Oh,

and 

they are

oh,

so

good!

'nuf said!!!

John interrupted his breakfast of oatmeal to tell me a little bit of his story, growing up in north St. Louis as the son of hard working bakers and becoming a baker himself.  He told of truckers who kept knocking on the shop door at 2:00 O'clock in the morning while he was baking, pleading for donuts until he finally changed his hours to accommodate them and about the time in the army when he stayed up all night making pastries for tomorrow's visiting dignitary, Spiro Agnew. 

He is a humble man, not thinking himself great, but as I watched his loyal customers come and go throughout the morning, the camaraderie they all share, their affection and loyalty to this place and its owner....

I think I now know why they bring him Superman keepsakes.