Downtown doughnut shop, O Face Doughnuts, calling it quits
By Alan Snel Las Vegas Review-Journal
A variety of doughnuts at O Face Doughnuts, located inside the rehabbed John E. Carson Hotel building at 124 S. Sixth St., are photographed Thursday, June 19, 2014. (Samantha Clemens-Kerbs/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Baker Rachel Bateman, right, boxes doughnuts for Kathy Corson at the O Face Doughnut shop in Downtown Las Vegas on Monday, Dec. 14, 2015. The store, backed by the Downtown Project, is set to close later this month. David Becker/Las Vegas Review-Journal
A man walks by the O Face Doughnut shop in Downtown Las Vegas on Monday, Dec. 14, 2015. The store, backed by the Downtown Project, is set to close later this month. David Becker/Las Vegas Review-Journal
Customers from left, Skylar Walsh, her brother Ethan Walsh and mother, Mary Walsh, smile as Ethan displays their doughnuts at the O Face Doughnut shop Monday, Dec. 14, 2015, in Las Vegas. The store, backed by the Downtown Project, is set to close later this month. David Becker/Las Vegas Review-Journal
Barista Danny Chandia boxes doughnuts for a customer at the O Face Doughnut shop in Downtown Las Vegas on Monday, Dec. 14, 2015. The store, backed by the Downtown Project, is set to close later this month. David Becker/Las Vegas Review-Journal
Barista Danny Chandia waits for customers at the O Face Doughnut shop in Downtown Las Vegas on Monday, Dec. 14, 2015. The store, backed by the Downtown Project, is set to close later this month. David Becker/Las Vegas Review-Journal
Barista Danny Chandia folds boxes as he waits for customers at the O Face Doughnut shop in Downtown Las Vegas on Monday, Dec. 14, 2015. The store, backed by the Downtown Project, is set to close later this month. David Becker/Las Vegas Review-Journal
Clothing hangs on a line at O Face Doughnut in Downtown Las Vegas on Monday, Dec. 14, 2015. The store, backed by the Downtown Project, is set to close later this month. David Becker/Las Vegas Review-Journal
Skylar Yenser, left, and Sarah Phillips serve doughnuts at O Face Doughnuts, located inside the rehabbed John E. Carson Hotel building at 124 S. Sixth St., on Thursday, June 19, 2014. (Samantha Clemens-Kerbs/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
One-half gallon jugs known as growlers, used for those who want to take a bunch of cold-brewed coffee home, are shown at O Face Doughnuts on the Carson Avenue side of the John E. Carson Building at 124 S. 6th St. in Las Vegas on Thursday, July 24, 2014. (Bill Hughes/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Angelika Johnson makes old-fashioned chocolate doughnuts at O Face Doughnuts, located inside the rehabbed John E. Carson Hotel building at 124 S. Sixth St., on Thursday, June 19, 2014. (Samantha Clemens-Kerbs/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
O Face Doughnuts, a Downtown Project-based business in the John E. Carson hotel building in downtown Las Vegas, is closing after being in business since April 2014.
The doughnut shop, known for its creative gourmet treats such as the cream cheese and lox doughnut, will close before the end of the month. A date has not been set.
Owner Sonny Ahuja said Monday there was not enough downtown population density in the neighborhood to grow the business.
“This business model might be early for this neighborhood,” said Ahuja, co-owner of 702 wine bar in nearby Container Park.
“We’re a neighborhood spot that could use a little more neighborhood,” he said. “It’s a timing issue. We’re proud of what we did. We needed more people.”
The 3,000-square-foot gourmet doughnut shop at 124 S. Sixth St. posted the closing announcement on Facebook:
“We have some sad news to announce. O Face will be closing our doors sometime by the end of the year. We have enjoyed our time in Downtown Las Vegas and being a part of the redevelopment scene.
“For our loyal friends and family, the team at O Face hopes to see you in the days to come to help celebrate a good run Downtown. Although we are saddened by our closing, we look forward to exploring our options in the New Year.”
Ahuja had invested about $200,000 to open his 12-employee doughnut shop.
O Face Doughnuts is the latest business to close shop at the John E. Carson building, a former 65-room, 1955 hotel rehabbed by Downtown Project, Tony Hsieh’s $350 million downtown redevelopment initiative.
The Bud & Vine flower shop and Digital Royalty social media company have shuttered their doors at the building.
News of O Face’s closing disappointed shop visitor Courtney Read on Monday.
“I am bummed out. This place is tight,” Read said.
