WARRENSBURG, MO. -- Warrensburg's new donut shop had so much business on its opening day, it ran out of glazed donuts.

Since then, it has had to add more workers to meet the demands of a steady stream of customers.

The Donut Cafe, owned by Dori and Chris Gregory, opened recently on North Maguire Street, in the MidTown Connection strip mall. The building formerly housed Dynasty arcade.

The shop's exterior is characterized by a giant picture of Homer Simpson eating a donut, taking up a large section of the store's ample window space. The picture was donated from the neighboring Blockbuster video store, Dori said, after Chris saw it on their window and asked if the donut shop could have it when Blockbuster was ready to take it down.

Dori Gregory, co-owner, hopes to see many returning faces at The Donut Cafe. (Photo by Lisa Handke)

The shop serves a variety of donuts and long johns, and usually has a muffin option as well. The Cafe offers regular and flavored coffee from The Roasterie coffee shop in Kansas City. There is also a machine for lattes and cappuccinos, and an espresso machine is on its way, set to arrive soon.

"Donuts are the main thing we focus on, but we wanted to have a coffee house feel," Dori said.

Helping to create that feel are the maroon walls with wood detailing and the low, black leather sofas, chairs, and ottoman situated in one corner of the shop. For now, the walls are empty, but Dori would like to start displaying artwork and photography by UCM students for decoration. Customers would be able to purchase the artwork, which would help the university artists get their work to the public.

Besides the art enterprise, Dori said the main thing that sets the Donut Cafe apart from other donut sellers in town is that it has room for people to come in, sit down, and enjoy their donuts and coffee. The shop has a subscription to the Kansas City Star, so customers can relax and read the newspaper. The Cafe is also getting wireless Internet service, and has tinted windows conducive to laptop use, so customers can work or play games on their laptops in the shop's relaxed setting.

Co-owner Chris Gregory prepares the day's donuts. (Photo by Lisa Handke)

"We want this to be an inviting place for people to hang out, before work or after work," Dori said.

She is also targeting Warrensburg's young people for business.

"Hopefully, this can be a place for kids to hang out, besides the bars," she said.

The Cafe's hours are definitely accommodating to college students' schedules. The shop is open from 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week. The evening hours of operation cannot be found at other coffee or donut places in town.

The Gregorys are from Kansas City, and lived in Urich, Mo., before moving to Warrensburg four years ago, after they obtained ownership of the GNC store in town.

Glazed donuts, long johns and much more await hungry Warrensburg customers. (Photo by Lisa Handke)

"It is kind of ironic that we own a health store and a donut shop," Dori said with a laugh.

The Gregorys had planned to open the Cafe in January, but reconstruction took longer than expected. They had to completely rebuild the ceiling and floor, because the former arcade's game machines had left jagged openings where wiring had run. The couple also had to add some walls before they could set up shop.

Running the Donut Cafe has been a learning experience for Dori and Chris. The two are adjusting to late nights closing up the shop, coupled with early mornings making the day's donuts, a tricky process at first.

"The long johns were shaped kind of funny on opening day," Dori said with a smile. "And we learned glazed goes fast."