Montgomery Donuts was a longtime staple across Montgomery County and the surrounding area, beginning with its first location in Silver Spring and eventually expanding to nine shops across Montgomery and Prince George’s counties.
The company, officially named Montgomery Doughnuts, began in 1946 under the name Dixie Cream Donuts before briefly operating as a Krispy Kreme franchise. When the family realized they could buy ingredients more affordably on their own, they became independent and rebranded as Montgomery Doughnuts, often shortened to Montgomery Donuts on signs and packaging for space. The original shop stood on Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring, near the current railroad overpass just north of the D.C. line.
At its peak, the company produced 6,000 dozen donuts a day at its Rockville facility, supplying more than 500 retail customers across the region, including 7-Eleven, High’s, and Marriott.
“We had 20 trucks on the road every night,” said Patrick Mayo, grandson of founders William and Gladys Mayo, who began working there at age 12 washing trays and trucks. His father, William M. Mayo, took over operations in the 1970s, overseeing a business that became part of daily life for countless local residents.
The company eventually faced increasing competition from bagel shops and convenience store bakeries and was sold in 2001. Shortly afterward, a severe snowstorm caused the roof of the Rockville production plant to collapse, bringing operations to an end.
Today, Patrick works as a realtor in Olney and Clarksburg but still remembers the family’s legacy fondly. “The closest tasting donuts to MoDo’s would be from Sheetz or Wawa,” he said. “That’s where I go when I need a good donut.”
Last year, local satire website The Montgonion stirred excitement and confusion with “Montgomery Donuts Coming Back Soon” signs appearing around the county. The signs, which included QR codes linking to a spoof article, prompted social media chatter and messages from hopeful residents, but we can confirm that Montgomery Donuts is not returning.
