Charlotte specialty doughnut shop closing its doors in South End

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — A Charlotte specialty doughnut shop is closing its doors at the end of the month.

Pepperbox Doughnuts announced Tuesday that its final day in business will be Halloween, Oct. 31, ending an eight-year run creating vegan-friendly doughnuts and locally brewed coffee. The last remaining location is in South End; its NoDa location shuttered in May after three years.

"In the past 24 months our sales have fallen drastically and, unfortunately, our only remaining location cannot sustainably stay open," they said. "We can't begin to express how much this time has meant to all of us. We've learned so much, met so many great people, and had the joy of watching people love and support our small business along the way."

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For two more weeks, Pepperbox is at 101 W. Worthington Ave., Suite 150.

This is the latest change in the competitive gourmet doughnut industry in recent years. Your Mom's Donuts temporarily closed its Matthews and Park Road locations in February 2023, but reopened later in the year.

Miami-based The Salty added a South End location in early 2023, and has plans to open in Ballantyne this fall.

Duck Donuts, based in the Outer Banks, now has four local shops. Reigning Doughnuts has a walk-up window in NoDa.