Highlights
- The Local Donut owner Daniel Tes posted on social media about struggling to make payroll during summer's slow season.
- The Scottsdale community responded by filling the shop the following day, with some local businesses pre-paying for customers.
- Tes opened the shop approximately 10 years ago; staff begin shifts at 11 p.m. or midnight to prepare each day's donuts.
- The shop's website is at thelocaldonutshop.com for anyone looking to show up or place an order.
Daniel Tes, owner of The Local Donut in Scottsdale, went public on social media last week with a straightforward admission: the shop couldn't make payroll. Summer's slow season had caught up with him, and he asked the community for help.
The response was immediate. The next day, customers packed the shop. Several local businesses went further, pre-paying for orders on behalf of future walk-in customers, according to FOX 10's reporting.
Tes opened The Local Donut approximately 10 years ago. The operation runs on a demanding schedule: workers start shifts at 11 p.m. or midnight to have product ready for morning customers.
The shop describes itself as bringing specialty and traditional donuts to the local community and visitors across Arizona.
FOX 10's Annlisa Pardo reported that Tes said he was humbled by the community's response. No timeline for a formal fundraising effort or ownership change has been announced.
Sources
Every factual claim in this article traces to one of the sources below. See how we work for the editorial process.
- Fox 10 Phoenix retrieved 01/08/2026 00:30
- thelocaldonutshop.com retrieved 01/08/2026 00:30
- Fox 10 Phoenix retrieved 01/08/2026 00:30
Authored by The Scottsdale Signal. Drafted by AI from primary-source material under our beat-specific editorial guides; reviewed by humans before publish under our five-gate process. Sources retrieved at 01/08/2026 00:30. Every claim traces to a source.
