Hurts seeks to keep Joplin foothold after franchise shutters

Photo courtesy Hurts Donut

Hurts Donut’s Joplin store, a franchise operation, is no longer operating.

Hurts Donut Co. LLC’s franchise operation in Joplin closed Sunday, the company’s CEO confirmed, as company officials seek to keep a presence in the market.

CEO Tim Clegg said he and other Hurts Donut officials found out about the closure yesterday. He said the franchise at 1602 S. Rangeline Road was operated by Vanessa Goodman via DL Dunn Investments LLC.

“This location is not a corporate store and we did not have any prior warning of its closing Sunday,” Clegg said via email.

Goodman, who also operates Signature Graphics and Print LLC in Springfield, could not be reached for comment by deadline. Clegg said Goodman opened the franchise store in January 2017.

Clegg said Hurts Donut wants to continue operating in Joplin.

“We are in the middle of gathering additional information, but our goal is to keep a Hurts Donut Co. store in Joplin to serve our loyal customers and fans in the area. We will be releasing more details as they're available,” he said.

The Joplin Globe was first to report about the franchise’s closure.

Hurts Donut now operates around 20 corporate-owned and franchise stores, according to its website. Locations in New Orleans, Omaha, Nebraska, and Memphis are marked as coming soon. A Little Rock, Arkansas, franchise store recently opened.

For Springfield Business Journal’s 2018 Economic Impact Awards, Hurts Donut won its category for one to five years in business. The company reported 2017 revenue of $20.6 million.