After four years of operating Happy Dough Lucky in the Mequon Public Market, owner Andrew Swofford has shut down the mini doughnut operation in an effort to focus more closely on finishing up the interior details for the doughnut shop concept he hopes to open this fall at 2691 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.
“We’re very thankful for all the support that we received from the community in Mequon,” says Swofford, “Mequon was the place where we really grew our brand. When we first started, we offered four options: plain cake doughnuts, cinnamon sugar, powdered sugar and a mix of both. But over the years there, we expanded our offerings significantly."
Among Swofford's 60+ creations, many inspired by customers, were treats like:
- Bart's Birthday Cake with vanilla creme frosting and rainbow sprinkles (pictured above)
- Yabba Dabba Doo with cinnamon sugar, Fruity Pebbles and raspberry sauce
- Dirt Cup with crushed Oreos, vanilla creme icing and gummy worms
- Monkey Business with Nutella, Reese's peanut butter sauce, peanut butter chips and fresh banana
- Puppy Chow Pow Wow with chocolate creme frosting, puppy chow and powdered sugar
“Along the way, we also created a really efficient system that allowed people to build their dream doughnuts and enjoy them while they were still hot and fresh,” adds Swofford.
Nontheless, he says, it was time for them to move on.
“It was a tough decision,” he says. “But we’ve really just outgrown our space there. And it was important to me to refocus my energy on the work that needs to be done to establish our shop in Bay View.”
Bay View moves forward
Swofford says he’s been slowly working on the space for his new concept, which will occupy the former Hue Vietnamese Restaurant space. There, he plans to offer his full complement of mini doughnuts in a fun space that showcases interactive elements like mini arcade games, action figures and televisions to broadcast Saturday morning cartoons.
“We’re likely to open as a doughnut shop first,” he says, noting that he’s also planning to carry Purple Door Ice Cream to offer scoops, shakes and mini doughnut ice cream sandwiches. “But my goal is to allow the concept to evolve to the point that we can eventually add pizza. But it’s important to me to do this right. I want to focus on a few things and do them really well.”
Swofford says that in the next week or two he plans to start parking his food trailer near the new restaurant location, offering guests a sampling of what’s to come. Folks can watch for food truck hours on Happy Dough Lucky’s Facebook and Instagram pages.
“It feels really good to be able to focus my energy on the restaurant,” Swofford says. “And I’m working hard to make it happen. I grew up in Bay View and started my business here. So it’s really special to be able to do this on KK.”
Swofford says, if all goes well with renovations and city approvals, he’s shooting for an opening by the end of October.
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
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