Leechburg, PA: I’m Cody Deluisio, and I like to check out the new places that I found around town. The most recent one worth writing about is Friendship Donut Co. on Market Street in Leechburg, PA. I’ve been in a few times now, and it’s already a regular stop. Here’s the short version before you scroll: the donuts are excellent, they sell out early, and the lemonade is the one to beat. The longer version is below, along with a quick walk past the storefront.
A new spot on Market Street
You can’t miss it. The storefront is painted a soft sage green, with “Friendship Donut Co.” spelled out across the top and a little donut standing in for the O. A donut-shaped neon “Open” sign hangs in the window, there are string lights and trailing ivy inside, and a “Donuts” flag sits out by the curb in case you somehow walked right past. A couple of wrought-iron bistro tables round out the sidewalk.
A little about Leechburg
If you’re not from around here, Leechburg is a small borough in Armstrong County, sitting right along the Kiskiminetas River. Market Street is the heart of it: a walkable stretch of old brick buildings, local shops, and the kind of downtown that people have been slowly bringing back to life. An independent donut shop opening on that street is a good sign, and it fits the block. Friendship Donut Co. took an older storefront and made it feel like it had always been there. That matters in a town like Leechburg, where the good spots tend to spread by word of mouth rather than advertising.
Get there early
The practical part: they’re open Wednesday through Friday from 7 a.m. to noon, and Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. A dozen is $16, which is fair for what you get, and the early crowd tends to clear the case. If you want a full range of flavors, show up near opening. I normally come in at 11 and they still have a decent selection.
The flavors worth knowing
The menu runs from plain glazed and classic cake donuts up through the more creative iced ones, and it moves around depending on the day. The blueberry is really good, made with real blueberries rather than just blue coloring, so it actually tastes like the fruit instead of generic sweet. If you like a fruit donut without it turning into candy, that’s the one to try. But the one I keep going back for is the lemonade.
I almost skipped the lemonade. It’s the vanilla cake ring under bright pink frosting and rainbow sprinkles, so it looks like a birthday donut and I figured it would taste like one. The frosting is the surprise: a tart, citrusy hit that’s closer to real lemonade than I expected, and it balances the sweetness of the cake instead of piling more sugar on top. The look undersells it. If you only get one thing on your first visit, make it this.
Tips for your first visit
A few things I’ve picked up from going more than once. Go early, and go earlier on weekends, because that’s when the case empties fastest. If you’re feeding a group, the $16 dozen is the move, and it gives you room to mix flavors instead of committing to one. Grab a seat at the sidewalk tables if the weather’s decent; it’s a nice spot to sit with a coffee and watch Market Street. And if you’re bringing kids, the sprinkle donuts basically sell themselves.
Friendship Donut Co. FAQ
Where is Friendship Donut Co. located?
On Market Street in downtown Leechburg, PA, in a sage-green storefront you’ll spot by the donut-shaped neon sign and the sidewalk seating.
What are the hours?
Wednesday through Friday, 7 a.m. to noon, and Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. They tend to sell out before closing, so treat the early end of that window as the real one.
How much is a dozen?
A dozen is $16, which is a solid deal for freshly made cake donuts.
What’s the best donut to order?
My pick is the lemonade, with the blueberry a close second. You can’t go too wrong, but the lemonade is the one I recommend to first-timers.
Do they have anything besides donuts?
They serve coffee, drinks, breakfast sandwhiches.
Worth the early start
Everything I’ve had there has been good, from the plain glazed on up. But the lemonade is the one I think about later. If you’re anywhere near Leechburg, stop in, grab a dozen, and put a lemonade in the box. Just don’t leave it until 11.
Leave a Reply