COLUMBUS, Ga. - Oct. 18 was set as the last day for Golden Donut's Wynnton Road shop in Columbus, according to the company's announcement as reported by the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer on Oct. 16. The company's Manchester Expressway shop remains open, and Golden Donut plans to open a new Leesburg/Albany location in February. The report names the Manchester Expressway shop as the one that stays open, and it does not give a total count of Columbus shops.

The Wynnton Road shop opened three years ago, in 2023, and the company announced the closing on its Facebook page. The company described the decision as part of a strategic shift in its growth plan rather than an end to its Columbus operations. This follow-up explains what closed, what stays open and what the company says comes next.

What closed on Wynnton Road

The Ledger-Enquirer reported that Oct. 18 would be the last day for the Wynnton Road shop. It opened in 2023 in a former Burger King location and became a welcome addition, according to the report. The closing ended a roughly three-year run there.

The shop was part of a brand with four decades of Columbus history. The report does not give a count of Columbus shops, but it names Manchester Expressway as the shop that stays open. The Wynnton Road shop opened in 2023.

The company explained the closing in a statement quoted by the Ledger-Enquirer: "Golden Donut has made the decision to close our Wynnton Road location as part of a strategic shift in our long-term growth plan." The company said the decision ties into how it plans to operate and expand its stores. The Facebook post itself was not viewed for this story, so the quotes here are as the newspaper reported them.

The Manchester Expressway shop stays open

According to the company's announcement, the Manchester Expressway shop will stay open. The post says the shop "continues to thrive and remains a vital part of the Columbus community." That description comes from the company and was relayed by the newspaper.

For customers who used the Wynnton Road shop, Manchester Expressway is the shop the company says will stay open. The report does not give that shop's street address or hours, so readers should check with the company before heading out. The company has not announced a replacement shop in Columbus in the information the newspaper reported.

Why the company says it closed the shop

Golden Donut called the closing a strategic business decision. The company tied the move to its long-term growth plan and to a change in how its shops operate. Its statement also highlighted production kitchens.

According to the announcement, all locations will feature production kitchens. The company says that will let it maintain "the highest standards of quality and freshness throughout our hours of operation." The company presented the kitchens as part of its growth strategy.

The announcement as reported does not say the Wynnton Road shop closed because of poor sales or a lack of customers. The reason the company gave publicly was its long-term strategic shift. Readers should keep that difference in mind, because the closing and the expansion plans were announced together.

A new Leesburg/Albany shop is planned for February

Golden Donut plans to open a new Leesburg/Albany location in February, according to the report. The company did not report a year in the portion the newspaper quoted. The new shop is separate from the Manchester Expressway shop and from the closed Wynnton Road shop.

The company also promises that more locations will follow through a mix of company-owned and franchised stores. The Leesburg/Albany shop is the only new opening named in the report. The number and locations of any other stores have not been announced.

The plan, then, includes both a closing and growth elsewhere. Wynnton Road is the Columbus shop being closed, and Manchester Expressway continues. The Leesburg/Albany shop and the possible franchised stores make up the expansion side.

Four decades of Columbus history

The Ledger-Enquirer reports that Golden Donut has four decades of history in Columbus. The Manchester Expressway shop closed in early 2021 amid COVID pandemic-related problems. It reopened that August under new managing partner Colt Miley, who kept the original recipes and most of the longtime staff.

Miley introduced the "Don Baker's dozen," which is 13 doughnuts for the price of 12, to honor former owner Don Baker. Baker died that summer and was known for tucking a free doughnut on top of every dozen. The newspaper described this as history, and the sources reviewed do not say whether the Don Baker's dozen is still offered today.

That background shows why the Manchester Expressway shop matters to the brand. It came back after an earlier closing, and the newer Wynnton Road shop followed in 2023. The company's latest announcement keeps the older shop running while it looks to grow elsewhere.

What it means for Columbus customers

The immediate change is the loss of the Wynnton Road shop, which opened in 2023. Customers who want a Golden Donut in Columbus can go to the Manchester Expressway shop, which the company says stays open. The planned Leesburg/Albany shop is not a replacement for the Wynnton Road shop. The report does not say how far the Manchester Expressway shop is from Wynnton Road, so this story does not estimate travel distance.

The sources reviewed do not say what will happen to the former Wynnton Road building or how many employees were affected. Those questions are open. Readers who want those answers would need to ask the company.

What to know

• Wynnton Road: The final day was set for Oct. 18; the shop opened in 2023.
• Manchester Expressway: The company says the shop stays open. Address and hours were not verified.
• Leesburg/Albany: A new location is planned for February.
• Production kitchens: The company says all locations will have them.
• Expansion: More company-owned and franchised stores are promised.
• Not confirmed: Whether the Don Baker's dozen is still offered, the future of the Wynnton Road building, and how many employees were affected.