Just days after cake and doughnut fans were mourning the sudden loss of the Thirsty Whale Bakery in Minneapolis, hope rises like a sweet dough proofing.
Alise and Luke McGregor, owners of YoYo Donuts in Minnetonka, have bought the business, offering to keep everything fans loved about the neighborhood bakery intact — including Kyle Baker, who last week made the decision to close it.
On Dec. 3 at 5 p.m., the Thirsty Whale owner and baker hit publish on a heartfelt note of surrender. The bakery would fulfill its existing orders, but it was closed for business effective immediately. The outpouring of support and sadness came swiftly.
"We had made that post and then came the calls," said Baker. "We got a lot of them asking about the space and wanting to sublease it." There was a barrage of interest in the address, he said, but then came a call from the owners of another small, family-owned business. "I got a call from YoYo's owners asking if we could chat and come up with a solution."
The solution would be that the McGregors would assume ownership and retain Baker in the kitchen.
"We kept talking about how we could expand our business," said Alise McGregor. "When I saw [the Star Tribune] story, I thought, 'Oh my gosh, what's going on?' Bakeries like this are the lifeblood of communities."
YoYo Donuts (5757 Sanibel Dr, Minnetonka, yoyodonuts.com) opened in 2010 as a dedicated nut-free bakery and facility. It became a popular and safe dining spot for those with nut allergies, and its reputation for exceptional doughnuts grew quickly. A line of nut-free ice cream was added, and the bakery was often filled with neighbors and fans who would drive for miles to get their YoYo fix.
As loved as those doughnuts are, the McGregors aren't looking to bring their brand of fried dough to north Minneapolis. Instead, Baker will continue producing what Thirsty Whale fans know and love.