Little Rock's Hurts Donut shop is closing its doors for good this Thursday at 11 p.m., ending a seven-year run on East Markham Street as the franchise's owners shift their focus to a new location in Hot Springs. The closure marks the end of a downtown fixture that opened in February 2019 across from the Statehouse Convention Center, when patrons once camped out overnight just to win grand-opening promotions.
According to KATV, the Little Rock store will shut down permanently on October 8, and owners announced the closure on social media with a simple message: “Farewell Little Rock. It's time to say goodbye.” The Little Rock franchise is run by Connor and Heather Grimes under Little Rock Donuts, LLC, and currently employs four staff members, including two who have worked there since opening day, as reported by THV11.
Per the same station's report, the owners have been publicly soliciting local job leads to help their remaining employees find new work as the downtown shop winds down. Connor Grimes expects the new Hot Springs store to open within approximately two months of the Little Rock closure, according to KARK.
A Downtown Shop With a Complicated Backstory
A Downtown Shop With a Complicated Backstory Little Rock approved a temporary weekend curfew.
The move shifts the brand from downtown Little Rock to Hot Springs. The new Hot Springs location has already signed a lease and plans to keep the brand's round-the-clock schedule, alongside a “magical” store theme, according to Diamond State Foodie.
From a Springfield Startup to a Regional Franchise
Hurts Donut Company began as a downtown Springfield shop less than five years before its 2018 article, with Tim Clegg as co-founder and CEO, according to the Springfield Business Journal.
Hurts Donut donates funds to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society 365 days a year, and co-founder Tim Clegg was diagnosed with MS in 2013 before the business began.
What Comes Next for Hot Springs
For now, Little Rock customers have just days left to visit the East Markham Street shop before it closes at 11 p.m. Thursday. The Grimes family's next chapter in Hot Springs is still taking shape, with no firm opening date announced yet, though Connor Grimes has indicated the new store should be ready within roughly two months of the Little Rock closure.
