After two two massive fires, the Ponce de Leon Avenue Krispy Kreme is coming back, says part-owner Shaquille O’Neal.
Krispy Kreme In Midtown: I’m Baaaaackkk
To sweeten its return to the Atlanta food scene, Krispy Kreme says during its grand re-opening week, it will randomly award 10 dozen guests a Celebration Ticket worth a dozen free Original Glazed doughnuts every month for a year.
“We made a promise to the Ponce community and all of Atlanta and we’re delivering on it,” Dave Skena, Krispy Kreme Global Chief Brand Officer, said in a statement. “Everyone has been so supportive during our bounce-back process and we’re thrilled to turn on the Hot Light. Our longstanding presence in Ponce is core to the community. Beginning Oct. 10, delicious, fresh Krispy Kreme doughnuts and all the happiness that comes with enjoying and sharing them will be back.”
When Is The Ponce Krispy Kreme Reopening?
The Krispy Kreme on Ponce is set to open this summer, although no specific time was announced.
“We’re bouncing back better than I even imagined,” O’Neal said on social media. “I can’t wait to turn on the Hot Light. It’s gonna light up the whole neighborhood. Get ready, Ponce!”
O’Neal released an artist’s rendering of what the rebuilt Krispy Kreme would look like, showing a sleep design with its signature white brick exterior.
Shaq bought an interest in the Krispy Kreme in 2016. It was set on fire the following year due to arson.
Once rebuilt, it caught fire again.
In December 2021, Krispy Kreme opened a temporary pop-up shop at the Ponce location, serving glaze donuts, coffee and more.
“We’ve struck a balance of modernization and honoring the historical significance of our Ponce shop’s location. We think our fans are going to love it,” said Krispy Kreme Global Chief Brand Officer Dave Skena, “The community has shown us so much support and patience as we designed the new shop. We can’t wait to be back with our guests, sharing joy and serving delicious, fresh Krispy Kreme doughnuts.”
Final Word
Atlanta is having a restaurant renaissance. Hot chicken is the rage in Atlanta’s dining scene right now. But so are chicken and waffles.
Fast-casual is also the dining trend du jour around metro Atlanta restaurants. The concept involves mixing the quick accessibility of fast food with the casual dining experience. Food in Atlanta is also adapting to the various tastes of the migrants that come here to live.
Tee Johnson: Tee Johnson is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of AtlantaFi.com, Atlanta’s independent hyper-local publication focused on news, restaurants, events, jobs, neighborhoods, and lifestyle. A 15+ year Atlanta resident and longtime journalist and content creator, she covers Travel News, Events, Business, Hair Care, and Money with a practical, Atlanta-first lens.
Before launching the site, Johnson worked as a substitute teacher in Atlanta Public Schools and later in corporate roles at Home Depot’s Vinings offices.
A marketer by training with a degree in business management, she grew frustrated with the fragmented, hard-to-find information about what was actually happening in the city. That gap led her to create AtlantaFi as a curated, one-stop resource for the pulse of Atlanta—#ATLHAPS—without the national noise. Editorial decisions remain independent; the publication does not accept products, meals, or services in exchange for coverage.
As Editor-in-Chief, she oversees original local reporting and curated practical guides that help residents, visitors, and businesses discover and engage with the city. Readers turn to her work for timely event roundups, dining and neighborhood insights, business and travel updates, and straightforward money and lifestyle coverage grounded in firsthand observation of Atlanta.
A devoted lover of all things Atlanta, Tee enjoys pickleball, a good margarita or bourbon, and walking the Atlanta Beltline. She can be reached for editorial inquiries at tjohnson@atlantafi.com (serious inquiries only).