The distinctive yellow and red Jack’s Donuts sign has been welcoming commuters along the White Horse Pike in Lindenwold for more than 40 years, but sadly the longtime South Jersey donut shop has closed its doors a few weeks ago, and the business remains for sale.
Jack’s Donuts is located along the White Horse Pike, just a block away from the 30 Strikes La Martinique bowling alley, with Cafe on the DL basically directly across the street. Canal’s Discount Liquor Mart is located across the side street.
I stopped by a couple of days ago to find the donut shop closed, with several “For Sale” signs posted around the property, including one directly along the White Horse Pike next to the recently updated main store signage.
News of the closing was shared by one of the current owners in the popular South Jersey Food Scene Facebook group, although I did not see a corresponding announcement on the official Jack’s Donuts Facebook page.
Earlier this year, the owners had announced that Jack’s Donuts was available for sale while they continued operating the business. Unfortunately, it appears they were unable to reach an agreement with a buyer.
Last month, co-owner Salete shared at the popular South Jersey Food Scene Facebook group that she and Jack had made the difficult decision to close, citing a combination of health concerns, rising operating costs, staffing challenges, and the expiration of their lease. (SJFS Website Article)
The lease situation was particularly interesting, as continuing the business would have required another full five-year commitment.
This also suggests that the building and the Jack’s Donuts business have separate ownership arrangements, so anyone interested in purchasing the business would certainly want to understand how the property and lease factor into the opportunity.
Jack’s Donuts: A South Jersey Favorite Since 1985
If you’re unfamiliar with Jack’s Donuts, well, as the name suggests, they’re best known for their delicious donuts, freshly made right inside the Lindenwold shop.
But over the decades, Jack’s also developed into a full breakfast and lunch cafe, complete with a classic old-school counter and seating where customers could enjoy a meal, a cup of coffee, and some friendly conversation.
For many South Jersey residents, Jack’s was the type of neighborhood business where you could quickly stop in for a donut and coffee on your way to work, or stick around a little longer for breakfast or lunch.
And the history of Jack’s Donuts goes back more than four decades!
According to a 2011 Philadelphia-area newspaper article by Kevin Riordan, Jack’s Donuts traces its beginnings to 1985, when engineer Constantinos Yansos opened the donut shop and named it after his father.
Known as Gus, Yansos operated Jack’s Donuts for decades, personally getting up early in the morning to prepare the fresh donut dough, glazes, and other ingredients needed to produce the shop’s signature donuts.
It was a true made-from-scratch operation, with the donuts prepared fresh every day.
One of my favorite aspects of Riordan’s article was a comment from Gus regarding the arrival of national donut chain Krispy Kreme in nearby Collingswood, and the possibility of additional locations opening in South Jersey.
Gus wasn’t particularly concerned about the competition.
“So what? All they have is the name. I have the quality.”
I love that line! It really captures the confidence and pride of a longtime independent business owner who believed in the quality of his product.
Newer Ownership and the Decision to Close
I’m not certain whether there were additional owners between founder Constantinos Yansos and the current ownership team.
However, in the earlier South Jersey Food Scene announcement about the business being offered for sale, Salete indicated that she and Jack had owned the donut shop for approximately five years.
At that time, they were still operating Jack’s Donuts and hoping to find someone interested in taking over the business.
Unfortunately, as 2026 progressed, the challenges of continuing operations apparently became too much, particularly with the expiration of their lease approaching.
In her more recent announcement, Salete also reflected on the many loyal customers who supported the business over the years, whether stopping in for coffee and a donut, enjoying breakfast or lunch, or simply sharing a friendly conversation.
It’s those personal connections that make the closing of a longtime neighborhood business especially disappointing.
What’s Next for Jack’s Donuts?
While Jack’s Donuts is now closed, from my visit it appears the building and restaurant space are still largely intact, with the familiar signage remaining in place.
Obviously, I haven’t been inside to assess the condition of the equipment or kitchen, but from the exterior it looks like a location that could potentially be brought back to life by a new operator without a complete redevelopment of the property.
Of course, any prospective buyer would need to investigate the business sale, building ownership, lease arrangements, equipment, and any necessary upgrades.
Personally, I would love to see Jack’s Donuts continue as a donut shop, maintaining a tradition that dates back to 1985.
But considering the existing breakfast and lunch cafe format, it also seems like a location that could support a broader restaurant concept, perhaps with an expanded breakfast and lunch menu.
With its prominent White Horse Pike location, recognizable signage, and decades of history, Jack’s Donuts certainly has a lot of local recognition.
Hopefully, someone will see the opportunity to bring new life to this longtime Lindenwold business.
And wouldn’t it be great if the next owner could keep those fresh donuts coming?
Links and Location
Jack’s Donuts
503 North White Horse Pike
Lindenwold, NJ
