Donatos Closes Doors: “Not Enough Business”

The closed its doors permanently on Oct. 24.  A catering specialist with the company said the location did not have enough business to remain open.

The Columbus-based Donatos opened the Avon Lake store on Walker Road 10 years ago.  

Tom Santor, Donatos media relations representative, said the company is repositioning itself in Cleveland. Donatos maintains more than 200 stores throughout six midwest states.

“We have a commitment and focus to grow through franchising,” Santor said. “We sold six Cleveland franchises including North Olmsted, Lakewood, Copley, Solon and Parma to Titan Group and closed several others including Avon Lake.”

Santor said the building that housed the Avon Lake Donatos does not meet the requirements of the current business model.

“The building design, size, the whole business model is totally different from where we are now,” Santor said. “It had lots of dine-in seating. It’s not consistent with ho we’re expanding right now.”

Santor also confirmed insufficient business was part of the reason for the store's closing.

He said Titan is building 10 more stores in next five years in the Greater Cleveland area but it was too soon to tell if Avon Lake will host one of those stores. It has not yet been ruled out.”

“As Titan Group expands there will be an investigation into whether Avon Lake makes sense for us,” Santor said. “We had great customers there.”