You have likely heard of or driven past Jordan’s Donuts on 5th Avenue in Coraopolis and their delectable little treats. Mini donuts, to be exact, with flavors that will make the kid in you rejoice, like Peanut Butter Pie, Magical Unicorn, Maple Bacon, and my personal favorite, Chicken and Waffles. That might be because they were created by a kid: Jordan Gracie, Jordan’s Donuts 13-year-old Chief Executive Officer.
Several years ago, the idea of opening up a donut shop became a regular topic of conversation in the Gracie family household.
“Anytime my dad was having a rough day he would say, ‘Let’s just sell donuts. Everyone loves donuts!’ Jordan recalled.
That idea stuck with Jordan, who pushed mom, Cloressa, to help her develop the perfect donut recipe. Once that happened, ideas for flavor combinations quickly followed. Dad, Bobby, is a 20 year veteran in the screenprinting business and offered his expertise to develop a business plan. Before long, Jordan’s Donuts became a reality, originally opening up its doors on Moon Clinton Road in October 2017 and moving shortly thereafter to its current location at 1005 5th Avenue in downtown Coraopolis.
“We have lived in Coraopolis for 14 years and the town has been growing. We felt it would be a great fit for our business. [The store] offers the space needed and the ability to make donuts all day,” said Cloressa.
Jordan’s Donuts now has a loyal customer base that continues to grow. But the Gracie’s aren’t in business just for sales. They strive to be good community members and neighbors to their fellow business owners.
“We love all the small businesses and business owners that surround us. We love supporting them as much as we can. Even when we can't frequent the businesses [due to our schedules] we share their social media posts and try to keep people informed of the things that are going on in and around Coraopolis,” Cloressa said.
The Gracie’s all agree: if someone is considering a space in Coraopolis they should jump on it. “There are a lot of great people and small businesses here that make this town such a great place to be.”
Beyond donuts, Jordan attends Lincoln Park Performing Arts School. She is a young woman of many interests and talents, ranging from art, make-up, hanging out with friends, and being an exceptional dancer. In fact, she currently attends Intensity Dance Academy in Mars and travels frequently to dance in national competitions.
Adding philanthropist to her list of titles, Jordan is in the process of creating the Jordance Foundation, which will be a nonprofit dedicated to helping children, like Jordan, achieve their dreams through dance, baking, and cooking. The ‘Donuts in a Jar” program raises funds for this cause.
When asked about her business philosophy, she said, “Be patient. Business always takes time and never be afraid of change to improve your business. We have done many things over the last two years to improve the ease of doing business and sometimes things are a winner and sometimes they are not.”
Like most small businesses, Jordan’s Donuts thrives on social media views, comments and reviews. So give them a like, refer them to a friend, and don’t forget to check out their unique 30+ flavors.
Jordan’s Donuts is located at 1005 5th Avenue, Coraopolis, PA 15108 and can be reached at 412-262-1968. Visit their website at www.jordansdonuts.com to learn more.