LAUREL, Md. — A community staple is back serving neighbors following a lengthy closure. Owners of Laurel Tavern Donuts said they opened last week. The shop had been closed since December, after a driver crashed into the side of the small building.
Owner Will Kwon told WUSA9 he was inside the shop when a car came through the wall.
"I thought like a bomb exploded," he said. "I was very close to it. I was very lucky to survive."
Kwon has run the business for almost 18 years, and some loyal customers have been coming to the shop for decades.
Following the crash, Kwon's son Sean started an online fundraiser to help them rebuild. According to the fundraising page, nearly 200 people opened their wallets to get the Laurel mainstay back in business, raising just over $12,000. The money was used to give the shop a new paint job, and repave the parking lot, among other needs.
"Such a Laurel institution and such dedicated people," one backer wrote.
Another backer acknowledged the history of the space. Laurel Tavern Donuts began its life as a fast food burger place called Little Tavern, similar to White Castle, serving mini burgers available by the bagful. The history of Little Tavern burger chain stretches back to 1927, with other locations in Baltimore, Arlington and D.C. The Laurel location is the last one standing. The Kwons still serve the iconic mini burgers on their menu.
"Their donuts and apple fritters are truly some of the best and it is great that they still offer the fondly remembered burger sliders from the former Little Tavern. A place like this needs to go on not just because of their food, it is a piece of history that has and can still bring happiness," wrote backer Stephen Reed.
Laurel Tavern Donuts is open 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday-Saturday.
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