Donut Shop
About us
In 1992, in the quiet heart of Whiteville, North Carolina, Mary Harrelson stepped out on faith and opened the doors to what would become a beloved hometown treasure—The Donut Shop & Restaurant. With deep faith and belief that He would guide her path, Mary followed a calling that was bigger than just starting a business. She believed that if she stayed faithful and worked hard, God would provide—and He did. In the very beginning, it was just donuts. Early mornings started long before sunrise, with her sister Sherry Pate in the kitchen mixing, rolling, and frying each batch by hand.
Together, they poured their time, energy, and heart into building something special from scratch. It wasn't easy, but through faith, determination, and a lot of prayer, they kept going. The smell of fresh donuts drifting through town each morning quickly caught people's attention. Folks began stopping in daily, drawn not just by the quality of the food, but by the warmth they felt when they walked through the door. It wasn't long before Mary saw an opportunity to grow. Trusting the Lord every step of the way, she expanded the menu to include breakfast and lunch. The Donut Shop & Restaurant grew into more than just a place to eat, it became part of the fabric of Whiteville. It's where people gathered before work, caught up with neighbors, and made memories with family. Regulars became like family, and new customers quickly felt like they belonged. Through the years, Mary never lost sight of what mattered most.
Her faith in the Lord remained the foundation of everything she built. In the good times and the hard seasons, she trusted & He provided to guide, and to sustain what she had started. And that faith showed in the way she treated people with kindness, generosity, and a servant's heart. As the years passed, what Mary started continued to grow not just as a business, but as a legacy. Today, the next generations of her children and grandchildren proudly carry on what she built, running the restaurant with the same dedication and values she instilled from the beginning. All of her 4 children & many grandchildren have worked there, learning firsthand what it means to serve others, work hard, and take pride in something that brings joy to a community. Today, The Donut Shop & Restaurant stands as a testament to what can grow from faith, family, and hard work. What began as a small donut shop, built side by side with her family, has become a true small-town staple-loved by many for its donuts, breakfast, and lunch, and for the welcoming spirit that fills the place every day. And at the center of it all is a story of faith in the Lord, a family working together, and a community that continues to be blessed by it.