Pepperbox Doughnuts, a beloved local bakery known for its light, airy, and savory doughnuts, announced on Instagram this week that it will be closing its NoDa location at 2810 N Davidson St. The closure is set for May 31, 2024, marking the end of an era for the popular doughnut shop in the NoDa neighborhood.
The announcement, made by Owners Alex Beebe and Nate Devillers, was filled with gratitude for the memories and support from the NoDa community. The owners wrote, “Today we bring big news… The end of an era has come, as we will be closing our NoDa location on May 31st. We are so grateful for the memories and friends made at this location, and the support we have received from our friends here in NoDa ❤️ While this chapter closes for Pepperbox, we are SO excited for what’s coming next to this space… and we think you all will be too 👀.”
Beebe and other non-named Partners are opening Copperhead Social Club in place of the NoDa Pepperbox, Beebe in an email Monday told What Now Charlotte. Details of the planned concept are expected to be released “very soon.” In the meantime, the team “will be encouraging people to follow along for updates on social media @Copperheadsocialclub.”
“Our decision to close was completely driven by numbers,” Beebe said. “The overhead was comparatively high for the location and our sales could not cover it, and we were operating at a loss for most of our time there. As our South End location was still doing well, we decided that the losses we incurred at our NoDa location were overall not healthy for the company as a whole. Our lease is not expiring.”
Fans of Pepperbox Doughnuts need not worry, as the original South End location will continue to serve their signature doughnuts and coffee. The Instagram post reassured patrons, “Don’t worry, we aren’t going anywhere! Our original location in Southend is still here, happily slinging doughnuts and coffee for you! ✨🍩☕️✨.”
“The pepperbox brand in the grand scheme of things is doing very well,” Beebe said. “We have weathered so much over the past few years dealing with closures, high inflation, etc, (as has everyone else) and we feel that consolidating our company back to one location is the final key to getting back on stable footing. Expanding our brand and serving our delicious doughnuts and coffee to wider audiences is still the larger goal of the company. This means opening new stores and expanding to other towns/cities, but there is nothing in the pipeline at the moment. Once we get our heads back on straight after dealing with the changes happening now, we will look to the future again.”
Pepperbox Doughnuts has been a staple in the Charlotte community since it first opened its doors in the South End area in 2019. The bakery prides itself on using the best ingredients, offering a variety of vegan options, and sourcing locally whenever possible. Their commitment to responsible food creation and community support has garnered a loyal following.
The name “Pepperbox” pays homage to a legend of the doughnut’s invention involving an American sea trader in the 1800s, who used a tin pepper box to punch a hole in the center of his fried cakes, thus creating the doughnut we know today.
Pepperbox Doughnuts invites the community to visit the NoDa location this week to bid farewell to the team and celebrate the memories made. The owners concluded their message with a heartfelt note, “We love you NoDa, and we can’t wait to see all of you in Southend! ❤️.”
For more information about Pepperbox Doughnuts and their offerings, visit their website.
[Editor’s note: an update to this article clarifies that Devillers, a co-owner in Pepperbox, will not be involved in Copperhead.]
