In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, food trucks have become a popular eating option in Jackson County.
Local offerings include barbecue and ice cream, chicken sandwiches, specialty burgers and tacos, breakfast burritos, paninis and homemade desserts.
Now, residents of Seymour, Brownstown and Crothersville can add doughnuts to that list.
Donut Central Mobile Command is the newest addition to the growing list of food truck vendors serving the area.
With its main bakery at 1504 Central Ave. in Columbus, Donut Central launched its doughnut truck in February to offer its products to customers in neighboring communities.
“Word of our doughnut shop has spread to many communities that surround Columbus, and we have heard many ask us to come to their towns,” said Donut Central co-owner Norma McLeod.
The teal truck parks at various locations from 6:30 to 10:30 a.m. Monday through Saturday to sell unique specialty doughnuts along with classic glazed yeast doughnuts and cream- and jelly-filled bismarcks. Coffee and other drink options also can be purchased from the truck.
Some of the most popular items are a doughnut/croissant mashup called a dosant, maple bacon doughnuts, tiger tails and giant cinnamon rolls.
“What we strive for is a great-tasting, larger-than-average doughnut matched with genuine and attentive customer service,” said McLeod’s son and Donut Central co-owner, Coleman McLeod.
Blayke Chase of Seymour said the cinnamon rolls are the best.
“It’s as big as the plate,” he said. “I look so forward to getting one on Monday morning. It makes it easier to handle the day.”
Besides Jackson County, the Donut Central truck also is setting up in Jennings County, including North Vernon, and other areas of Bartholomew County, such as Hope and Edinburgh and rural parts of Columbus.
“The Mobile Command unit is our way of making our products accessible to people in these areas,” Norma McLeod said.
The exact locations where they set up are places they have been invited to and from where they feel they can serve the community well, Coleman added.
“We chose Seymour, Brownstown and Crothersville mainly because we received several requests from customers to come,” he said. “Seymour’s requests were huge in number from the start back in November.”
So far, they have set up just north of the city at Discount Boot and Tack and Rockford United Methodist Church, both on North Ewing Street. They are planning to apply for permission from the Seymour Board of Public Works and Safety soon to set up within city limits.
“But we also love the small towns, like Brownstown and Crothersville, and have found the people love having us there,” Coleman said. “Some locations, like Seymour, we come once a week. Other locations, we may only come two to three times a month or even once a month.”
The demand and staff availability determine the frequency, he added.
But the response from Jackson County has been incredible, he said.
“Not only are we busy, but the people are so kind and appreciative and supportive,” he said. “We are made to feel very much welcome and even at home every time we come. It’s pretty amazing.”
Vera Reichenbacker of Seymour said she has only tried the Donut Central truck once but walked away impressed.
“I thought they were just awesome people, very friendly,” she said. “The line was out to the highway. The doughnuts were huge.”
Although some people are concerned food trucks take away from local restaurants, Reichenbacker said Seymour is fortunate to be able to attract them.
“The trucks offer great options and service,” she said. “We should all be celebrating and encouraging small business no matter what it looks like. It’s the American dream.”
Donut Central opened in 2017 in Columbus and is owned and operated by the McLeod family, including Norma and her husband, Kyle; Coleman and his wife, Danielle; and daughter, Marlee Brunni, and her husband, Andrew.
Coleman credits his mother with the idea for the business.
“We all had a dream of owning a restaurant or bakery together as a family, but the doughnut shop was her idea, and without her, it would not have happened,” he said.
The idea for the doughnut truck came about as a way to expand and again was Norma’s idea.
“We have all talked about and wanted a second location at some point, and a doughnut truck seemed like a fun way to make that happen,” Coleman said.
The family plans to continue adding communities to the list of destinations they serve.
“We receive requests on social media for towns and communities to visit and use these requests to help decide where to go,” Coleman said.
Andrew Brunni, who serves as marketing director for the business, said the mobile command unit would not be possible without its customers.
“We have seen such an outpouring of support in all of the communities we are visiting and look forward to continuing to serve our wonderful customers the premier donuts they desire,” he said.
Coleman said having such great customers makes running a bakery and doughnut truck worth it.
“Jackson County has been so welcoming and kind, and when I experience that, it truly makes my job so much fun and something I look forward to every day,” he said
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The Donut Central Mobile Command schedule is posted each Sunday along with daily reminders on the bakery’s Facebook and Instagram pages.
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