Hurts Donut Co. inks deal in University Village Centre

Springfield, Mo.-based donut chain Hurts Donut Co. has signed a five-year lease to be a tenant in the University Village Centre development in south Fayetteville.

Hurts will lease approximately 4,700 square feet in the 19,465-square-foot center on West 15th Street, across the street from Baum Stadium. The building is owned by Fayetteville businessman Mark Zweig.

Tim and Kas Clegg opened the first Hurts location in November 2013. The chain has quickly expanded, with nine stores in multiple states and others under construction. Scott Bussard bought in as the Cleggs’ business partner when Hurts opened a store in Norman, Okla., near the University of Oklahoma campus.

Hurts serves regular donut shop fare, but is more widely known for its oversize specialty donuts and donut milkshakes. Stores are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The company has been featured on Food Network, and features more than 70 varieties of donuts, from Peanut Butter Cup to Cookies and Cream.

Dak and Melissa Henning are the Hurts franchisees for the Fayetteville store.

The future Hurts space was previously home to City Pizzeria & Salad Co. | City Craft House. Zweig, who bought the property from Signature Bank of Arkansas earlier this year for $2.25 million, said occupancy is now about 70%, up from 40% from the time he purchased it.