Topeka Night Out: Roxy's Donut Dive

Photos by Emma Highfill, Rose Wheat Photography

Roxy’s Donut Dive is a brand-new restaurant with a vintage vibe. Order fresh mini donuts, ice cream, coffee and tacos, all from the same place. Roxy’s just opened in mid-July, but the restaurant has already developed a devoted following because of the creative menu and fun atmosphere, plus the convenience of a drive thru. Zip through for a tiramisu donut sundae, sopapilla donuts, cold brew coffee, Thai tacos and more.

“Where else can you find this combo?” said owner Jeff Lee. “We set out to do something different and fun at Roxy’s. We want to keep people guessing. You’ll have favorites to count on every time you visit, but also innovative flavors and surprises.”

A FOOD EXPERIENCE 

Lee was inspired by a little place in Florida that served mini donuts and brought his 12 yearsof food truck experience into the mix for an extra twist. As the owner of the Kansas City Food Truck Mafia, Jeff has learned how to stand out in the crowd and create a food experience for discerning customers.

“We serve authentic street tacos,” Lee said, “as well as Thai tacos and giant tacos. The Big Juan is over 14 inches long and weighs over a pound!”

After you savor a delectable taco, you can get your sweet fix with an order of mini donuts or a mini donut sundae in a variety of flavors, served in a waffle cone or a cup. Or if you prefer your donuts with a side of coffee, Lee is confident that you’ll receive one of the best cups of coffee in the city at Roxy’s, from Topeka roaster Blue Jazz.

“I wouldn’t have called myself a coffee drinker before,” said Lee, “but our coffee and cold brew is so good that I’m now a dedicated fan. It’s fresh and consistently good. Kevin from Blue Jazz helped get everything set up perfectly and approved our process for a really delicious cup every time.”

Lee says that his favorite menu item changes frequently because there is so much to love.

“First it was tiramisu,” Lee said, “and I love our street tacos and Thai Tacos, of course, but right now it’s our sopapilla donuts. And we’re always cooking up something new. Soon we’ll have pumpkin donuts made with real pumpkin.”

THE RIGHT PLACE

Lee set the plan into motion in December 2019, and then moved quickly to make his vision a reality. Opening a restaurant in 2020 has not been without its challenges,

though. First there were the usual steps of finding the right venue, getting it ready for business and spreading the word. Luckily, Lee knows the owner of Gage Bowl, and that led to a perfect location for a fun restaurant with a drive-in vibe. Fortunately, the 1950s location was built to last and had great bones.

“It just needed some polish to make it shine again,” Lee said. “We redid the floor and replaced a few ceiling tiles, but mostly it was about giving it back its style. Wompas Graphix did a great job with the
art on the building, and we get compliments on it all the time. A senior even came over to have her photos taken by our building after we had only been open for about three weeks!”

Fortunately for Roxy’s, the restrictions in place this year were easy to work around, as they are setup for drive-thru, take-out and outdoor dining. Lee has adjusted some of his plans for the interior dining space, though, choosing to focus instead on how Roxy’s might add games or other outside interests as the fall brings cool weather.

CUSTOMERS’ SUGGESTIONS

Lee notes that customer feedback is very important to his planning, and that he takes customer comments and suggestions seriously. He has already tweaked Roxy’s hours in response to messages that he received, though he has chosen to remain closed on Sundays.

“It’s all about balance for our customers and employees,” Lee said. “It was hard to decide not to be open on Sundays, but I wanted our staff to have that day with their families.”

Roxy’s offers a variety of specials on Facebook. Early birds can get a big discount on donuts, and Lee plans to offer Frontline Fridays with discounts for first responders. And of course, Taco Tuesday means great deals on delicious tacos.

“I love to see the smiles and share the joy,” Lee said. “It’s been amazing to see the response and support for Roxy’s here in Topeka, and I want everyone to know that we’re committed to creativity and a fun food experience.”