Alan Foster

LaMar's Donuts and Coffee

Ray Lamar opened the first LaMar's Donuts in a converted gas station on Linwood Blvd. in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1960. Locals immediately flocked to the homemade donuts and LaMar's Donuts became a Kansas City institution. Lines started forming before 6 a.m., and by closing time more than 11,000 donuts are sold at this single location. The store was known for their fresh, delicious donuts and the staff never refused a special request. Based on the donut shop's phenomenal success and widespread reputation, Ray LaMar and his wife Shannon, made the decision in 1990 to franchise LaMar's Donuts. Today, we have 25 locations in five states: Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska. LaMar's Donuts have been recommended by Zagat's Survey, The New Yorker and Gourmet Magazine, and was chosen in the summer of 2008 as one of America's five best donuts by AOL Cityguide. Ray was a guest on Good Morning America, The Today Show and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Hallmark Cards designed a greeting card in his honor and the Kansas Trivial Pursuit game has a question that reads: "Where do you stand in line for donuts in Kansas City?" Answer: LaMar's Donuts.