The Donut Guy Closes Sandhill Store to Relocate
Owners should monitor foot traffic trends when evaluating the long-term viability of high-cost retail storefronts.
Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Openings & Closings
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The Donut Guy has closed its storefront in the Village at Sandhill, pivoting operations back to a previous location in Winnsboro. The brand will maintain its ongoing presence at the Soda City Market.
Why it matters
The closure highlights shifting consumer engagement in retail centers, as the Village at Sandhill saw a nearly 3 percent decline in foot traffic during Q1 2026 compared to Q1 2025.
The business cited a nearly 3 percent decline in foot traffic during Q1 2026 versus the prior year period. Operations will continue at the Soda City Market.
The players
The Donut Guy
A food service company operating multiple storefronts and market stalls in South Carolina.
The details
The Donut Guy is centralizing its regional footprint by returning to a Congress Street storefront in Winnsboro. The business plans to operate an express service at this location while simultaneously reopening a restaurant in an adjacent space. This move marks the third significant site change for the company, following the launch and subsequent closure of a location in The Vista in 2022 and the 2023 debut of the Sandhill storefront.
Timeline
2022: The Donut Guy opened a location in The Vista.
2023: The Donut Guy opened a storefront in Sandhill.
Q1 2026: Sandhill foot traffic declined nearly 3 percent.
October 2026: The Donut Guy announced the closure of the Sandhill storefront.
Market Landscape
The Donut Guy's decision to consolidate in Winnsboro follows a historical pattern of site turnover, notably the closure of its 2022 Vista location. This strategic pivot reflects an ongoing industry trend of operators vacating larger retail centers in favor of more established or controlled markets.
Operators in high-traffic retail centers should monitor quarter-over-quarter foot traffic data to assess potential risks to physical storefront viability. Use these fluctuations to evaluate whether to diversify revenue through market stalls versus committing to permanent brick-and-mortar leases.
The takeaway
Retailers must balance the visibility of shopping center anchor locations against the fixed costs of maintaining brick-and-mortar footprints during periods of waning foot traffic. Track site-specific foot traffic metrics as a leading indicator before deciding to renew or exit commercial leases.
Further reading
For more on local business moves, see Columbia Openings & Closings.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Post and Courier.
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