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Who owns Atlanta's historic Krispy Kreme store? Ponce de Leon Ave outlet gutted as fire sweeps through building

Fire crews remained at the store to put out the flames towards the early hours of Wednesday, February 10, morning

Atlanta's historic Krispy Kreme store, bought by retired sports star Shaquille "Shaq" O'Neal, located on Ponce de Leon Avenue, has reportedly caught on fire. Firefighters were called to the store shortly before 1 am and further updates are awaited.

According to WSB-TV, store employees told Channel 2 Action News that everyone in the store got out and no one got hurt. Fire crews remained at the store to put out the flames towards the early hours of Wednesday, February 10, morning.

While the location is not the original Krispy Kreme store as it is often mistaken to be, it is still considered to be a historic landmark in Atlanta. The OG Krispy Kreme was actually started in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, by Vernon Rudolph in 1937 after he collected a top-secret yeast-raised doughnut recipe from a French chef in New Orleans.

Many took to social media to express their grief over the disaster to befall the classic landmark. One user wrote, "this is heartbreaking near Grady, I'd stop by on the way home after doing thesis work... so many memories of stopping by this krispy kreme location."

Another tweeted, "not even a big Krispy Kreme fan—way too sweet—but this place is like 60 years old and totally feels it. a true landmark." A user opined, "THE KRISPY KREME JUST FUCKING BURNT DOWN THIS IS THE LOWEST POINT IN MY LIFE I HOPE THE DOUGHNUTS SURVIVED."

According to The Odyssey Online, Krispy Kreme first came to Atlanta as a strictly wholesale store located on 451 Ponce de Leon Avenue and then moved to its current location in 1965, where it began serving as an actual restaurant. The publication also states that its glittering "doughnuts" sign was part of the "hippie counterculture present and alive in the city."

An iconic part of the Ponce de Leon Krispy Kreme store is its "HOT NOW" sign, which was added to the store in 1992 and is also considered a sight to see in Atlanta. 

While the store was remodeled in 2003, it still features the store's signature style, with diner-style swivel chairs, a window that lets patrons view the hundreds of freshly-fried doughnuts gliding down the conveyer belt, and the stacks of the store's classic paper hats.

Basketball star Shaquille O'Neal's love for Krispy Kreme doughnuts is well known, especially after the Ponce De Leon Avenue branch. In 2016, O'Neal became the owner of the historic location and became a global spokesperson for the brand.

"Krispy Kreme prides itself on spreading joy and supporting local communities, and that's a cause that I am thrilled to be a part of," O'Neal said at the time. "Our goal is to help people find their happy place, and what better way than with a box of delicious Krispy Kreme doughnuts."

Some users, however, managed to find the humor in wake of the disaster. A user wrote, "tonight when they say the Krispy Kreme donuts are HOT off the belt, they REALLY mean it." Another tweeted, "Krispy Kreme franchise owners when that stimulus is too late and they know their corporate donut overlords won’t save them."