The Donut Shop: Huron's 'College of Knowledge'

HURON — It's just after sunrise on Friday, yet not a single person's eyes are glazed over.Rather a bunch of chatter consumed the Donut Shop, located smack-dab in downtown Huron.Sherri Mesenburg, the Donut Shop's owner, assembles a variety pack of a dozen doughnuts for a customer on Friday, June 7, 2019. On busy days in summertime, Mesenburg makes upward of 1,100 doughnuts at her Huron-based business.Only during brief moments — typically whenever patrons munched on their chocolate-ring, cinnamon-raised or creme-stick doughnuts or between sips of piping-hot coffee — did the talking come to a screeching halt inside the quaint, throwback-style diner.To commemorate National Doughnut Day, which occurred Friday, the Register visited the local landmark, known as "Huron's College of Knowledge," to understand why customers enjoy this establishment so much.The Donut Shop is located in downtown Huron. It's often regarded as Huron's "College of Knowledge," where people can learn about current events, sports teams and other pertinent area information.Bruce Dunkle, who, for the past 15 years, has visited the Donut Shop almost every single day, explained his favorite spot's nickname. In short, anyone walking through the door receives a wealth of information about Huron sprinkled his or her way."I really like the camaraderie of the people in here," Dunkle said. "We talk about the events of the day. It's really easy to stay up on things happening in the area."Among some popular topics talked about by customers in recent days: owners possibly selling Sawmill Creek, police arresting a woman at a city council meeting and officials developing the former ConAgra site.Sherri Mesenburg, the Donut Shop's owner, holds a vanilla-frosted and sprinkled doughnut inside her Huron-based business on Friday, June 7, 2019. On busy days in summertime, Mesenburg makes upward of 1,100 doughnuts.Debates can often get hotter than a fryer making the Donut Shop's tasty treats. Dunkle estimates the shop's customer base is split evenly between Democrats and Republican. Though, despite the differences on certain philosophies, in the end, everyone gets along."We don't come to blows about it," he said. "We're all friends here."Some customers even earned their pseudo medical degrees there."We know a lot about knee replacements, prostate cancer, pulled muscles," said John Swanbeck, who sat beside his buddies Jeff Skaggs and Larry Capucini. "Just by hearing all the guys' stories in here, we can tell you more about medical issues than anyone else in the county."Three friends and longtime, loyal Donut Shop patrons — from left, Jeff Skaggs, John Swanbeck and Larry Capucini — sit in the Huron-based establishment on Friday, June 7, 2019.They also playfully rag on one another's golf games and resentfully speak on the Cleveland Indians' underwhelming performance this season."We also follow all the local teams," Dave Majoy said. "We learn a lot about the players and how they're doing. We always like to see Huron (High School) teams do well."Friends and longtime, loyal Donut Shop patrons — from left, Dave Majoy and John Jones — enjoy coffee with one another inside the Huron-based establishment on Friday, June 7, 2019.When she's not flipping doughnuts, filling trays with them, pouring coffee and cashing out walk-in patrons, Sherri Mesenburg intently listens to every word as customers impart their wisdom onto her."I'm the smartest girl in Erie County," said Mesenburg, the Donut Shop's owner, who, also on Friday, celebrated her 23rd year in business."I just love all the people in here," said Mesenburg, who makes almost 1,100 doughnuts on a busy summer day. "I lost my dad, and the customers in here are like my dads. I have about 40 really great, and really smart, dads now."Some of the Donut Shop's most loyal customers are pictured with owner Sherri Mesenburg on Friday, June 7, 2019. Everyone pictured visits the downtown Huron establishment pretty much on a daily basis, as they enjoy the tasty treats as much as the conversations and camaraderie formed with one another there. Reach reporter Andy Ouriel at ouriel@sanduskyregister.com and follow him on Twitter @AndyOuriel.