Longboat cheesecake parlor becomes donut shop

When serving a variety of items such as cheesecakes, shaved ice and chicken pot pie, Gary Hagen didn’t think donuts would be a standout item on his menu at the Elegant Lady Cheesecake Parlor when he started experimenting with adding them to the mix. But, when all his donuts were sold out by 8:30 a.m. every day, he thought it was time to reconsider his focus. 

After making famous cheesecakes around the country since the 1980s, Hagen is changing his Elegant Lady Cheesecake Parlor to be Longboat Key’s newest donut shop, Donuts By Design, this month.

“My brand now is going to be Donuts By Design and Longboat Gary’s Donuts with Attitude,” said Hagen. “I have done cheesecake for a long time, but I’m excited for this change. I love changing things up and learning to make new things. It’s just fun. That is what my shop is about. So if people want donuts, that is what they will get.”

Hagen opened his first cheesecake shop, Elegant Lady Cheesecake, in the 1980s in Monterey, California. After opening a cheesecake factory from that shop and 10 other restaurants nationwide, Hagen moved to Bradenton to help care for his mother in 1989. 

Photo by Petra Rivera

Hagen opened the Hollywood-inspired Elegant Lady Cheesecake Parlor in Whitney Plaza in February. After mastering the art of making cheesecakes, Hagen decided to focus more on donuts after being inspired by a customer. 

“This lady came in one day to buy two donuts before going kayaking,” said Hagen. “She told me, ‘I haven’t had a donut in 10 years because gluten affects my stomach.’ When I was telling her how I make the donuts, she looked at me and said, ‘That's gluten-free.’ I didn’t even know I was making them gluten-free. She ended up coming back to buy a dozen more later.”

Knowing that he was serving gluten-free donuts helped the word spread. It made the shop one of the go-to dessert places on the island because it provided options for everyone to eat even if they had dietary restrictions. This also opened up many catering opportunities at events, parties and businesses around the island.

Hagen's menu spans from his famous cheesecakes to donuts, ice cream, cupcakes, gluten-free pies, waffles, chicken pot pie, New York-style bagels, hot dogs, sandwiches and shaved ice. He said he will continue to offer these items but plans to spotlight his 25 flavors of donuts in different forms.

He has the classic flavors such as glazed, jelly and frosted donuts with sprinkles, but he loves to create his own flavors as well. Hagen's newest invention is a 'California cream' donut because of his California roots. The unique sweet treat is a Boston cream donut with maple syrup on it. 

Photo by Petra Rivera

Hagen is looking forward to his newest menu item: donut sundaes. A customer gave him the idea after asking to add donut holes to his ice cream order. Now, the slow moments in the day are left for Hagen to test different sundae combinations.

Hagen said the shop is about more than making money to him. It is about the people he meets and the food he shares with them. Connecting and hearing about the Longboaters’ interesting lives makes the long hours of baking and managing the shop worth it. 

“This island is so amazing,” said Hagen. “My customers are always inviting me to things and making me feel like a part of the community. I'm so grateful for them. They love me and I love them. So, I’m excited to bring something new and different to Longboat.”