Donut Connection on Tarentum Bridge Road in New Kensington will close its doors Tuesday, according to the owner of the franchise.
Rakesh Patel said he is looking for a location in the Alle-Kiski Valley to open a new franchise. He said he’s eyeing New Kensington or Lower Burrell.
Patel purchased the franchise in 2023, but he said he missed the opportunity to renew his lease with the owners of Riverview Plaza, the shopping center where the doughnut shop sits.
After trying to work with the owners, he said, he received a notice to leave the property. He said he feels forced out.
Representatives of Pittsburgh-based Madison Acquisitions, parent company to plaza owner 100 Riverview LP, could not be reached for comment Monday.
It’s unclear what will come next for the space, which has been a Donut Connection franchise since at least 2007. Before that, it operated as a Dunkin’ Donuts for decades.
Riverview Plaza has recently seen a massive overhaul after the demolition of its longtime Kmart anchor in 2021.
An Aldi location opened in 2023, followed by a Harbor Freight and a Starbucks last year.
Donut Connection was formed in 1995 by a group of Mister Donut franchise owners after that company was acquired by Dunkin’ Donuts.
Other local Donut Connection locations can be found in Harrison, Hampton, McCandless, Cranberry and Pittsburgh’s Carrick neighborhood.
