Virginia Lindsay and Karen Heilman have been business partners for a long time.
From gardening and antiquing to two successful local coffee shops, the women have long mastered the balance of friendship and business.
“I always say, ‘Women in business: you either support each other or fail,’” said Heilman, 57, of Freeport.
The women are bringing that spirit to Leechburg’s Market Street with Friendship Donut Co.
After opening 1833 Coffee in Freeport in 2021 and Grant Ave. Coffee Co. in Vandergrift in 2022, the business partners are dipping their toes in the food business for the first time.
“We, as women, want to have diversity in our businesses as well as give back to the community,” Heilman said.
The shop opened Friday in the site of the former Goat Donuts, which closed last September.
“We love being in our two other communities,” said Lindsay, 50, of South Buffalo. “With this community being so close by, we loved the idea of creating another space here in Leechburg.”
In the spirit of collaborative business, Lindsay and Heilman made it clear they’re not coming in to muscle other businesses out.
“We want to be in the community,” Heilman said. “We want to support other businesses and shine a light on these small towns. We believe in small-town community.”
The women won’t be selling espresso at Friendship Donuts like they do in their other shops because Coco Coffeehouse just across the street already fills that need in the community, Lindsay said.
“In a small town, collaboration is, we feel like, the key instead of competition,” Lindsay said.
The mindset rings true in how the women operate their own businesses. Recognizing each other’s strengths, Lindsay is handling the shop’s building, menu creation and other opening day prep, while Heilman will tackle hiring, training and supply ordering.
“We’re the yin and the yang,” Heilman said.
The women purchased the doughnut-making equipment from the owners of Goat Donuts and began renting the storefront from them in January. Lindsay said it took about four or five runs on the shop’s Donut Robot to get the hang of making the little pastries.
“(Lindsay) loves understanding machinery. She loves building. She loves YouTubing,” Heilman said. “So, she has done all of the doughnut making.”
Heilman said the process has been perfecting their craft through training and making doughnuts for local events.
Since first learning the machine, both women have made doughnuts for different events and community groups including Birdsfoot Golf Club’s St. Patrick’s Day event, a wedding expo at Lingrow Farm and an event hosted by Semper Gratus.
Heilman emphasized the women’s appreciation for the unique qualities of each community where they conduct business.
“The Kiski River runs past Vandergrift, runs past Leechburg, feeds into the Allegheny, which takes you downtown,” Heilman said. “This is a trail town. It’s a river town. It’s really big on the outdoors. We hope to bring people from the trails. We hope to bring people from the river.”
The women staffed five employees at Friendship Donuts. Lindsay said employees from 1833 Coffee and Grant Ave. Coffee have also been trained on how to make doughnuts in case they are needed to fill in at the shop.
The shop’s menu offers vanilla cake doughnuts with different types of icing and toppings. Eventually, Lindsay said, the shop will add chocolate cake doughnuts, also with different topping options, and seasonal doughnuts. A classic starts at $1.85 per doughnut.
For custumers looking for something a little more complex or personalized, a custom doughnut option is available. Customers can take a base doughnut, now vanilla but soon to be more, an icing or glaze, up to two toppings and an icing drizzle to top it off. The custom option allows customers to stretch their creativity, making infite flavor combinations, at $3 each.
The shop will also offer drinks, including coffee, cold brew, dirty soda and lemonade.
Lindsay said the shop’s hours will be Wednesdays through Sundays, from 7 a.m. to noon.
More than starting a new business, the women are excited to create a new community space.
“We’re looking forward to getting to know the people here,” Heilman said.