Santana Row’s Johnny Doughnuts filled its last orders for CroDoughs and Bismarks over the weekend, just four months after expanding to the South Bay.
On Monday morning, the Marin-based bakery quietly closed that San Jose shop, plus one in San Francisco’s Financial District and one in downtown Santa Rosa, in order to “focus on its core shops.”
Those would be the shops in Marin and Napa counties. “Our San Rafael, Marin Mart in Larkspur and Oxbow Public Market stores are open and operating as usual, and catering and events continue as planned,” co-owners Craig Blum and Kim Diamond wrote.
Founded in 2012 as a food truck by Blum, a restaurant industry veteran, the doughnut bakery served tech industry and other corporate clients before opening brick-and-mortar shops. Shutting down three of those became necessary because “we expanded too quickly,” Blum told the San Francisco Chronicle.
The Food Network has rated Johnny among the Top 5 Doughnuts in America, and the “Eat This, Not That!” website judged the vegan and classic cinnamon rolls the best in California.
Johnny occupied a spot at Santana Row’s Valencia Park, near Urban Plates, Smitten, The Counter and Maggiano’s. During the early days of the business, a Johnny manager said, the doughnuts were popular with Maggiano’s diners and nearby health club members.
Details: 3055 Olin Ave., #1045, Santana Row, San Jose; johnnydoughnuts.com.