The Old Townie: The personal touch of the locally owned
Columnist Steve Schnabl writes that locally owned businesses like the Oxford Donut Shoppe give people in Oxford a unique chance to connect with the people they shop from.
Congratulations to the new owners of Oxford Doughnut Shoppe. Let the local small business continue to excel.
I recall when Joshua Francis started the business. I find it amazing that it was 21 years ago. I believe it was no easy go for a young man at that time … health codes, building regulations and local ordinances. When the doors finally opened after several months of tedious preparations, delicious fresh donuts came out of the back area by 6 a.m. when the front doors were set to open — some days a little later than posted.
Josh was initially a one-man band when it came to baking, but his parents Jack (Speedy Gonzalez) and Jan assisted him as the shop’s earliest salespeople. Jack also started helping with the baking, arriving before midnight to start prep, and joined by Josh later.
I was a frequent morning customer, getting something to eat with my coffee as I drove to work in Hamilton. I made larger purchases on the weekends as my two grandsons and up-to-a-baker’s -dozen of their friends had sleepovers in our basement. I liked a chocolate-iced twist, a sugar twist or a glazed. My wife favored powdered cake or cinnamon rolls. The kids didn’t care, as long as we had enough.
Our Oxford Doughnut Shoppe was one of the original stops on the Butler County Donut Trail.
I haven’t made my first visit yet since new ownership took over, but I will soon, and I expect to become acquainted with the new staff as I did with Josh, Jan and Jack.
Seeing ownership of the Oxford Doughnut Shoppe change hands reminds me of how lucky we are to live in a small town that lets us connect with business owners so personally.
When we first moved to Oxford in the summer of ’85, little projects took me to the hardware store. I don’t recall Oxford Hardware being Uptown any longer, so my choices were Ace and Agee’s True Value.
Mr. and Mrs. Mahaney owned Ace in its now-auxiliary store at the corner of Spring and College. Saw sharpening, drill bits, tiller rental and propane refills helped me recognize the Mahaney’s who usually worked the store together along with their competent crew. Their home was in the building’s second-story apartment.
When they retired, Oxford was fortunate to get Jeff and Debbie MacDonald as the new Ace owners. They grew their business, building the larger modern store next to the original, with the lumber yard. Jeff and Debbie were and continue to be wonderful community supporters. They and their capable staff found what you needed, taught you what you didn’t know, learned what they didn’t know and got to know many, many Oxford area residents on a first-name basis.
The store still exists, but I miss the depth of knowledge among those former Ace employees and their outstanding customer service.
On the same par of local warmth and expansive knowledge of their business and customers were the Agee family and their staff at True Value, in the now-empty Asia Market behind Walgreen’s. Siblings Les, Gail and Donna, plus the incredible Estill led me to paint, masonry nails and chicken wire to protect the toddlers on our second story deck. Les’s untimely death shocked many of us and it eventually led to the store closing. I miss the Agees.
Small business makes a town into a community. I’ll provide some other recollections of local merchants next time.
Steve Schnabl moved to Oxford in 1985. He retired in 2023 from Oxford Seniors after a 40-year career directing nonprofits.
