Donut Monster’s Brown Deer Location Moves Forward
Donut Monster’s plans for Brown Deer have cleared an important local approval.
The Village Board unanimously approved a development agreement with Donut Monster LLC for a restaurant and bakery at 8725 N. Deerwood Drive on August 17, 2026. The board also approved rezoning the property to allow the project, according to the meeting minutes included in the village’s September 21 board packet.
For North Shore families who already make Donut Monster part of their weekend breakfast routine, it’s a development worth following. Donut Monster has already created a loyal customer pace with its current locations in Whitefish Bay, Cedarburg and downtown Milwaukee shops.
Donut Monster started as a pop-up business serving donuts and sandwiches made with its own English muffins. Its existing shops offer donuts, sandwiches and coffee.
Our Know the North Shore profile of Donut Monster has more background on the business and its established locations.
Donut Monster history
Donut Monster is the work of husband-and-wife team Jackie and Sara Woods. Jackie spent nearly two decades in fine dining, cooking in Michelin-starred kitchens in Milwaukee and across California, before deciding to pour that training into something more joyful. The name came straight from their young daughter, a Cookie Monster fan who announced one morning over breakfast that she was the "donut monster." The name stuck, and a brand was born.
The Woodses started small, selling at area farmers markets and pop-ups around Milwaukee before opening their first permanent shop on a quiet residential street in Whitefish Bay in December 2019. Word spread fast.
A Third Ward location followed inside downtown's Landmark Building, and the brand has since grown to three spots across the metro. What began as a farmers market stall — you can still find them at the Shorewood Farmers Market — is now one of the most recognized names in Milwaukee's donut scene.
The current locations
There are currently three Donut Monster shops to choose from, spanning the North Shore, Ozaukee County, and downtown.
The original sits in the heart of Whitefish Bay at 5169 N. Elkhart Ave., tucked into a neighborhood setting that gives it a real corner-bakery feel. The Cedarburg location lives in that town's historic, walkable downtown at W62 N634 Washington Ave., a natural pairing with a day of antiquing and strolling (see our guide to the best places to eat in Cedarburg while you're there). And the downtown shop anchors a prime Third Ward address at 316 N. Milwaukee St., perfect for pairing with a riverwalk stroll or a stop at the public market.
North Shore Family Adventures
Find your Donut Monster stop
Three current shops, plus the future Brown Deer location. Tap a donut pin for details.
Loading locations…
Brown Deer: Restaurant and bakery approved at 8725 N Deerwood Drive. Opening date unconfirmed; the pin marks the approximate address, not a confirmed entrance.
Checked September 18, 2026. Check current hours before visiting. Sources: Donut Monster locations and Brown Deer village packet (page 24).
Read our Donut Monster guideBest donuts
The lineup shifts week to week, but a core group of flavors shows up again and again and earns the most love from longtime fans. The PB&J is a signature, a brioche shell filled with peanut butter buttercream and finished with a concord grape glaze made from organic grapes. The Maple Bacon strikes a more sophisticated balance than most versions around town. The Lemon Poppy Seed and the tangy Buttermilk with sprinkles are reliable crowd-pleasers, while the Salted Chocolate satisfies the richer cravings.
Then there's The OG, a sour cream old-fashioned cake ring with a distinctive tang and texture that more than a few regulars consider the single best thing on the menu. Filled fans gravitate toward the Cheesecake donut, which tops a cheesecake-filled shell with seasonal fruit glaze and a graham cracker crumble. Cinnamon Toast and Brown Butter round out the list of flavors customers consistently rave about.
Best food beyond the donuts
If you only ever order donuts here, you're missing half the magic. The breakfast sandwiches are a destination in their own right, built on English muffins the shop bakes from scratch and layered with egg, your choice of ham or bacon, cheese spread, and avocado. Fans routinely describe them as some of the best breakfast sandwiches they've had anywhere, and the chef pedigree shows. Pair one with a coffee or a seasonal espresso drink and you've got a full sit-down breakfast rather than a grab-and-go snack.
If you're chasing a great cup, our roundup of North Shore coffee shops and our North Shore brunch guide are good companions to this one.
A possible youth sports facility has surfaced in Brown Deer’s planning documents.