Yonutz Fantastical Donuts and Ice Cream plans second Louisville shop in the Highlands neighborhood

Expansion follows Middletown debut as brand’s “smashed” desserts gain local foothold

Yonutz Fantastical Donuts and Ice Cream is preparing to open a second Louisville location, this time targeting the Highlands, marking the dessert chain’s next step after establishing its first area shop in the East End.

The company’s existing Louisville-area storefront operates in Middletown at 12939 Shelbyville Road, Suite 101, where it opened as the brand’s first Kentucky location on Feb. 28, 2025. The Middletown shop is listed with daily operating hours of 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Hiring notices posted for local operations indicate the Highlands site is planned to open next year. As of publication, no verified street address, lease details, or opening date for the Highlands location has been publicly confirmed through primary business filings or official store listings.

What Yonutz sells—and why it stands out

Yonutz is built around an approach that combines doughnuts and ice cream into “smashed” desserts: a doughnut is split, filled with ice cream, and pressed to serve warm and cold in a single item. The company also sells milkshakes topped with doughnuts, mini doughnuts, and additional dessert options. Some locations, including Louisville’s, also offer breakfast sandwiches.

The concept originated in South Florida and has expanded to multiple states. The company’s official location listings include stores in cities such as Atlanta, Las Vegas, Phoenix, and others, alongside the Middletown Louisville site.

What a Highlands location could mean for the corridor

The Highlands is one of Louisville’s most active dining and nightlife districts, with steady foot traffic and a dense mix of independent restaurants and regional brands. A second Yonutz shop would place a dessert-focused operator into a competitive landscape that includes long-established local doughnut retailers and a growing number of specialty sweets businesses across the metro area.

For consumers, the addition would likely expand access beyond the East End to a more central neighborhood, shortening travel time for customers who live and spend time near Bardstown Road and adjacent corridors.

Key facts at a glance

• Existing Louisville-area location: 12939 Shelbyville Road, Suite 101, Louisville, KY 40243.
• First Kentucky opening date: Feb. 28, 2025.
• Planned expansion: a second Louisville shop is expected in the Highlands; an exact address and opening date have not been verified.

Louisville’s dessert market continues to diversify as national concepts and local operators compete for customers seeking novelty, convenience, and late-day treats.

Further details on the Highlands project—including location, permitting milestones, and an opening timeline—are expected as development and staffing progress.