Historic Krispy Kreme Temporarily Returns to Ponce as a Pop-Up Doughnut Shop

The twice fire-ravaged Krispy Kreme on Ponce De Leon Avenue in Midtown, partially owned by basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal, is set for demolition this week, with plans to rebuild and reopen the historic shop next year. But, starting in the December, the doughnut company plans to host a temporary pop-up on the site for the holidays.

Little is known about just what this Krispy Kreme pop-up shop will entail or what doughnuts might be served there. According to a press release, details regarding the menu and hours, along with an opening date for the pop-up, should be released in the coming weeks.

Two fires caused catastrophic damage to the building, first in February, followed by a second fire in July. Investigators eventually ruled arson as the cause of the February blaze. The cause of the second fire has yet to be determined. No one was injured in either fire.

Atlanta fire spokesman Sargent Cortez Stafford told Eater earlier this summer the building had been deemed “unsafe” following the February fire. Utilities to the shop were supposedly disconnected and the property fenced off at the time of the fire in July.

Photo: Popfi

Once rebuilt, look for a few original and refurbished design elements from the historic doughnut shop, including the sign prominently displayed on Ponce. A representative for Krispy Kreme declined to provide further details on when the Ponce shop would reopen in 2022 and whether it will once again feature a 24-hour hot doughnuts drive-thru.

Krispy Kreme opened on Ponce in 1965 and included a 24-hour drive-thru window. It was also the only kosher-certified Krispy Kreme location within the city of Atlanta. O’Neal purchased the landmark doughnut shop on Ponce as part of a 2016 franchise deal with the North Carolina-based doughnut chain.

• The Historic Krispy Kreme on Ponce Is Being Demolished and Then Rebuilt [EATL]
• Second Fire Causes Further Damage to the Historic Krispy Kreme on Ponce [EATL]
• Arson Blamed For the Fire That Destroyed the Historic Atlanta Krispy Kreme [EATL]
• Fire Breaks Out Overnight at the Historic Krispy Kreme on Ponce [EATL]