Ever since Robin and Wendy Ley put their three Top Donut shops – including the one at 1895 Lakeview Avenue – on the market earlier this year, folks in Dracut have been wondering what will happen to their beloved morning coffee-and-doughnut stop.
Fear not. Alex Nacopoulos and Kostas Schoinas bought the Dracut shop and are promising to retain the quality of Top Donut’s products – and maybe even step it up a bit.
“We’re going to continue a lot of what they did, and maybe slightly improve things,” Alex says.
They’re also keeping the name, which has become synonymous with quality doughnuts and breakfast sandwiches in the Dracut-Lowell area.
“It’ll still be Top Donut, but we’re adding Kostas’ homemade spinach pie, homemade baklava, maybe some other Greek delicacies,” Alex says.
Dracut Economic Development held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new owners on December 2.
Alex, a Lowell native, and Kostas, who was born and raised in Greece before moving to Lowell 10 years ago, both have extensive culinary backgrounds. Alex’s father has owned Brothers Pizza in Lawrence for 35 years, and Alex is the vice president of operations. Kostas owned The Corner Café in Lowell before selling it earlier this year.
The two friends were looking for a new challenge.
“I’ve known Kostas’ family since I was in kindergarten,” Alex says. “He was looking for something bigger after selling The Corner Café, and we saw this was on the market.”
The Leys, who are Dracut residents, built the Lakeview Avenue site as Top Donut’s third location – the other two are in Lowell -- and opened it just three years ago, so the property is in excellent shape. Alex and Kostas were able to move right in. Alex said they have plans to one day make some changes behind the counter to improve customer service.
Alex has the business acumen, having also worked in real estate, and Kostas is the chef, already adding his own baklava and spanakopita to the Top Donut menu, with more additions coming.
But the doughnuts – Top Donut’s bread and butter – will be the same, as will the coffee, though there will be new varieties.
“In Greece, there are a lot of espresso coffees,” Alex says, “so Kostas is going to be adding those to the lineup.”
Kostas says they kept the Top Donut staff and are still looking for more help. The store will close at 6 p.m., for now, though they may consider staying open later if there is a demand.
