The Story Behind The Other Side Donuts New Storefront

By student journalists Thatcher Patterson and Isaac Dunaway, and TOSA graduate Robbie Myrick, who also manages The Other Side Village's Prep School
April 15, 2024 || KRCL RadioACTive

 

The Other Side Village is a master-planned community in Salt Lake City that helps people coming out of chronic homelessness to find healing and a life of purposeful living, according to our Village teammate Robbie Myrick. As part of their time at the village, these residents can work at one of the village’s social enterprises, or businesses. One of these enterprises is The Other Side Donuts.

The doughnut shop is the brainchild of Tim Stay and Moe Egan, both of whom work for The Other Side Village. However, the initial plan wasn’t to make doughnuts. They wanted to set up a cookie shop according to Nicholas Smith, the general manager of the doughnut shop. However, due to oversaturation in the Salt Lake City cookie market, they opted for opening up a doughnut shop instead.

The employees at the doughnut shop are all residents of The Other Side Village, according to Gideon Nieman, a baker at the shop and a junior at the village. This is a big reason why the community is so strong at The Other Side Donuts. 

“We live together in this building, and then we go to work in the morning. So we already know each other, we know who likes to do what and everybody’s strengths and weaknesses,” Nieman said. “We understand each other. There’s no fighting, there’s no unhappiness. You can feel a sense of gratitude when you’re there. Everybody knows what they’re working towards and that they’re doing their part towards the village.”

The doughnut shop is one of many enterprises that help residents learn life skills such as getting up early, keeping a schedule, and managing their money, according to Smith. These enterprises provide funding for the organization as well. This allows the Other Side Academy to be self-sufficient.

“You gotta look at where they’re coming from. This social enterprise is here to support The Other Side Village. The Other Side prep school is where they start their mornings at. It’s a highly structured environment,” Smith said. 

Now, the employees at the Other Side Donuts are looking forward to opening their new storefront in Salt Lake City. Prior to this storefront, they have been selling doughnuts online out of The Other Side Academy’s kitchen on their campus at 667 E 100 S in Salt Lake City.

“We’re putting together our swag and who’s gonna be our donut mascot and t-shirts and hats and all that stuff we’ll give away.” Egan said. “It’s coming to fruition. I can honestly say I haven’t seen anything like this donut shop around the country. It’s literally Disneyland meets donut shop. It’s whimsical, it’s magical, and it’s a dream theme that hard work pays off and dreams can come true.”

The Other Side Donuts storefront is expected to open sometime towards the end of April, located at 760 S Redwood Road.