Clintonville is about to get a little sweeter—Rose Dough Donuts is opening its first brick-and-mortar shop at 3375 N. High St. this summer.
Founder Katie Passo, also known as the “head donut lady,” launched the business in 2022, crafting her signature donuts at 1400 Food Lab, a shared commercial kitchen. While it provided a great start, she’s eager for a space where customers can walk in and experience her creations firsthand.
Baking has been part of Passo’s life since childhood, inspired by time spent in the kitchen with her mother and grandmothers. Her love of sweets even extended to bike rides for Boston Cream donuts as a kid. After two decades in Chicago working in PR, the pandemic reignited her passion for baking. She trained at the French Pastry School, honed her craft as a cake shop intern, and ultimately returned to Columbus with her husband (and two pups) to make her donut dreams a reality.
Now, she’s creating a 1,000-square-foot shop that blends her love of baking, design, and community. She’s committed to using high-quality ingredients like local farm-fresh eggs, Midwestern organic flour, and nothing artificial. Rose Dough Donuts will also give back, donating monthly to the Clintonville-Beechwold Community Resources Center.
Passo hopes to open by National Donut Day on June 6. Until then, Rose Dough Donuts will continue operating from 1400 Food Lab. Stay updated at rosedoughdonuts.com.
