A popular donut shop is preparing to expand its footprint in Louisville with a new Highlands location set to open next month. Yonutz Fantastical Donuts and Ice Cream will open its second Louisville store at 1449 Bardstown Road, bringing its signature smashed donuts and specialty treats to the neighborhood. The nearly 3,000-square-foot space will be located next to Green District Salads and is expected to welcome customers in April, according to Louisville Business First.
The new Highlands location represents the second store for owners Ben and Amanda Hiner, who opened their first Yonutz location in 2025 at 12939 Shelbyville Road in Middletown. The expansion comes less than a year after launching their initial Louisville-area shop, signaling strong early success for the donut destination.
Yonutz Brings Unique Donut Concept to Bardstown Road
Yonutz has built its reputation primarily on its “smashed donuts,” a distinctive preparation method that sets it apart from traditional donut shops. The process involves slicing donuts, filling them with various ingredients, smashing them flat, and adding creative toppings. The shop’s menu extends beyond these signature items to include gourmet doughnuts, mini doughnuts, ice cream, and milkshakes, offering customers a range of sweet treat options.
However, the Highlands location will introduce an innovative twist that distinguishes it from the Middletown store. The new shop will feature what the brand calls a “clawcade” concept, incorporating arcade-style entertainment into the dining experience.
New Clawcade Concept Adds Entertainment Element
The Bardstown Road location will include a dedicated section filled with claw machines and arcade games designed to attract families with children. “It’s a big section for claw machines and arcade games and other stuff for the kids,” Ben Hiner told Louisville Business First. The claw machines will allow customers to win stuffed animals while enjoying their donuts and ice cream, creating an entertainment destination beyond just food service.
This family-friendly approach positions Yonutz as both a dessert shop and an activity destination. The addition of arcade elements may help the business appeal to a broader demographic and encourage longer visits from families in the Highlands neighborhood.
Additionally, the Bardstown Road corridor has become an increasingly popular location for food and beverage businesses seeking to tap into the Highlands’ vibrant pedestrian traffic and residential density. The area already hosts numerous restaurants, cafes, and specialty food shops, making it a competitive but potentially lucrative location for the expanding donut chain.
Operating Hours and Expansion Timeline
The new Highlands Yonutz store will maintain daily operating hours from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., providing early morning service for breakfast seekers and extending into evening hours for dessert customers. These extended hours position the shop to capture multiple dayparts, from morning commuters to late-night sweet cravings.
Meanwhile, the gourmet donut market has seen increased competition in Louisville and other cities nationwide, with specialty donut shops differentiating themselves through unique flavors, preparation methods, and experiential concepts. The Hiners’ decision to incorporate arcade games represents one approach to standing out in this competitive landscape.
While the new location is expected to open in April, a specific opening date has not yet been announced. The timeline will likely depend on final construction completion, staff hiring, and any necessary permits or inspections required for the Bardstown Road space.