A shop serving traditional doughnuts, as well as more imaginative creations now found in shops on the coasts, is seeking a May opening in downtown Maplewood. 

Corey Smale, one of the partners in a bakery planning to move into the space recently vacated by Pixies Hair Design on Sutton Boulevard, said he grew up going to shops like World’s Fair Doughnuts, John Donut and Donut Drive-In. The new Maplewood shop will be called Strange Donuts.

“We love the classics, but also, what’s been done with cupcakes is being done with doughnuts in other cities,” Smale said. “Voodoo Doughnuts, in Portland, Oregon, has national recognition. They were the first to add bacon to a doughnut. In St. Louis we haven’t seen it done.”

One of the partners in the business is the baker, who goes by “Sweet Will.” He previously worked at The Cup in the Central West End.

Smale, 28, has not been in the food business previously. The other partner is Tyler Fenwick.

Smale said they plan on offering 12 types of doughnuts each week—six classics and six “creations.”

“For those wanting to get more strange, we’ll have a creme brulee,” he said. “One we were working on last weekend was a deep, deep chocolate cake – very dense. It has a vanilla mint topping, and it’s very creamy, and then we sprinkle some Oreos, and not just regular Oreos, because you’ve got to go for double stuffed.”

He said they'll still have jelly, Boston cream, glazed and other traditional classics.

Smale said they’re getting word of the shop out locally at first.

“We want to be out there for a few months, putting cool content out there, just sharing ideas, and just reaching out to the audience,” he said.

Find Strange Donuts on Facebook and Twitter. Stay connected to Maplewood-Brentwood Patch on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MaplewoodBrentwoodPatch.

See more about Maplewood businesses on Patch:

• Maplewood Hair Salon Moves to New, Bigger Space
• Monarch Chef to Open New Restaurant in Clayton
• Post Bar & Grill Could Expand into Creve Coeur
• Schlafly Looking for 40 Acres For Expansion