Photos: John Yuccas
Beloved Burnsville bakery sets up a second shop.
As of this past June, Lakeville Crossing and the community at large has welcomed a new arrival—Lakeville’s first space-themed donut shop.
Donut Star has a longstanding history in Burnsville that dates back to the late ’70s, according to the accounts of neighborhood regulars. It makes sense that the bakery continues the ethos of a traditional donut shop, even after its recent change of ownership in May 2022.
“We try to make simple, classic donuts, but [we] do so with the best ingredients we can,” owner Peter Sebastian says. “Our dough is made from scratch each and every day with real eggs, real milk and real butter. Our icings are made with real chocolate, real vanilla and actual maple syrup.”
An assortment of Donut Star donuts and confections.
We sat down with Sebastian to learn more about the new neighborhood confectionery and what this second location is bringing to Lakeville.
Cities South Magazine: What’s the story behind the space theme?
Peter Sebastian (PS): When I considered buying [Donut Star] I spoke with my sister, who is an artist, about wanting to give the place a refresh. It hadn’t changed much in its history and I felt it was in need of some new life. In thinking about a rebrand, I thought of the name itself—Donut Star, and came up with ‘Rock Star’ and ‘Space’ as possible ways to play off the name.
I asked her if she could help me come up with a rebrand based on the concept of “Rock-and-Roll Space Donuts,” and she nailed it. Plus, I wanted to make this a fun gathering place for kids, and kids seem to love astronauts. If you come to either shop you’ll see murals on the walls—those were all hand-painted by her.
Peter Sebastian’s sister hand-painted a rollicking outer space jam session at the Burnsville Donut Star location.
How do you come up with your rotating specials?
PS: We talk about ideas as a team, but most of the specials come directly from our executive pastry chef, Emily Poole. We love to keep things fresh and new, and the weekend specials are a great way to give people something fun to look forward to.
I saw mention of Frenchie Friday on social media. Do you have other days of the week that are tied to certain types of donuts?
PS: Frenchie Friday is definitely the one that gets the most hype, but we also do Saturday Bearclaws, which may be my favorite special. We make a Blueberry Cobbler Bearclaw with maple icing and streusel on top. They’re huge, and so good, and only available on Saturdays.
How would you describe the “Spaceman” roast by Tapestry Coffee that you serve?
PS: Perfect with a donut. It’s a nice medium roast, with a great backbone of chocolate and caramel flavors, and just a hint of fruitiness. I think it’s a perfect coffee for us, because for 99 percent of people it’s just a great cup of coffee, and for the 1 percent that want to get a little nerdy about it, there’s a lot of complexity there.
How has community reception in Lakeville been so far?
PS: Great! Most folks seem excited to have a donut shop in their neighborhood. Although some have expressed concern about the diet they were supposed to be adhering to … apparently we’ve made that more difficult for some.
Most days we’re still seeing people who are discovering us for the first time, and they all seem happy to have found us. We’ve been feeling the love and it’s been fantastic!
How does the Lakeville location differ?
PS: The biggest difference I would say is space—Lakeville has double the seating of our Burnsville shop. It’s nice to have the room for family gatherings, sports team meet-ups and even work meetings to take place within our four walls there.
What has been the most popular donut at the Lakeville location so far?
PS: This seems to change with the day. We have sold out of French Crullers every Friday this month in Lakeville. Besides that it’s probably our classic Glazed Old Fashioned, or maybe the Vanilla-Almond Buttercream Bar—that one’s unique, and I’ve yet to find anyone who doesn’t love it.
Are there Lakeville-only offerings or specials?
PS: Not yet. We’re working on some ideas to maybe make into Lakeville-exclusives, but for now the menu has followed the Burnsville menu. We’re open to requests if anyone has any fun ideas.
What time of day should people aim to visit for their best chance of satisfying their donut craving?
PS: My best advice is to order ahead. We take pre-orders online, or you can call or email us. We’re happy to hold anything you want for you so you don’t miss out.
If you’re stopping by on a whim, your best chance at getting the full selection is definitely before 10 a.m., especially on weekends. But we’re open until 2 p.m. each day, and [we] usually have something left until we close. Plus, from noon–2 p.m. we offer Happy Hour for walk-ins. We give you a deep discount for a dozen, or half dozen donuts during that time. We know the selection can get light, so that’s our way of encouraging folks to buy more donuts. It’s a great deal if you need a little afternoon treat!
Donut Star
7656 160th St. W, Lakeville; 952.255.8287
Instagram: @thedonutstar
