South Orange County Donut Shop Shuts Doors: How To Help

LAGUNA NIGUEL, CA — A South Orange County donut shop known for its delectable Mexican food and sweet fare is closing its doors for good after six years in the business.

Sunny Side Up Donut Shop, located at 30251 Golden Lantern in Laguna Niguel, served its last meal at the location this past weekend.

"The Laguna Niguel community has been exceptional with us, and we just want to take a moment to truly show our gratitude to all of you," shop owner Jorge Delgado wrote on Instagram. "To everyone who supported us, came in regularly, or even just stopped by once — thank you. You all made this worth it more than you know."

According to a GoFundMe page for the donut shop, the closure was prompted after a proposed lease extension was withdrawn for Sunny Side Up's location on Golden Lantern.

"As the end of Jorge's six-year lease approached...a proposed written lease extension was provided to him, but it was later withdrawn," friend Daniel Garcia wrote on GoFundMe. "Jorge was left facing the difficult reality of relocating a fully operating restaurant without the time normally needed to plan a smooth transition."

While the situation has left the business without a storefront, the GoFundMe page seeks to raise money for a new location.

So far, roughly $6,700 has been raised out of a $13,000 goal.

According to the GoFundMe, the funds raised will help cover:

• Moving and reinstalling commercial kitchen equipment.
• A deposit and initial rent for a new location.
• Plumping, electrical work and equipment hookups.
• Light remodeling, paint, flooring and signage.
• Permits, inspections and reopening expenses.

"For those of us who know Jorge, Sunny Side Up Doughnuts has never been just a restaurant," Garcia wrote. "It is a place where customers are greeted by name. It is a neighborhood gathering place where people come in for breakfast, coffee, doughnuts and conversation. It is the kind of place that feels increasingly rare: a small local business with a real sense of community."

To view Sunny Side Up's GoFundMe, click here.