Baton Rouge will be getting sweeter as Mr. Ronnie’s Famous Hot Donuts makes its final transition from Houma into the city. Mr. Ronnie’s will open a second location on 216 Lee Drive and open in late May.
The shop will be open 24 hours a day to accommodate those needs for donuts at all hours, said director of franchise development Rocky McMillian.
Shop owner Ronnie Picou said he bought the eatery in 1976 from Al Copeland, who was struggling to keep this business and another afloat. After an 18-year hiatus from the restaurant business, Mr. Ronnie’s officially opened in 1994.
Known to locals as The Donut Man, Picou spent eight years perfecting the donut-making process, which he still uses today, according to the shop’s website.
Picou said that with Louisiana’s ever-changing weather, slight variations from the original technique compensate for the harsh factors such as humidity and heat.
“I took it from the bottom to number one,” Picou said.
McMillian said it was time to bring a Mr. Ronnie’s to Baton Rouge because people are already making the almost two-hour trip from Baton Rouge to Houma just to pick up the fried delicacies. Once the shop is open, students and patrons will be able to enjoy the pastries at all hours of the day. The shop will also feature a drive-through, so people will have the opportunity to purchase their guilty pleasure from the comfort of a vehicle.
McMillian said there has been talk about opening more restaurants across the country, including Florida, Texas and Tennessee.
The shop will feature donuts, King Cakes, burgers and more.