Noted Donutville USA founder Al Porada dies Thursday at 91
Al Porada, founder of Donutville USA, a Dearborn mainstay for doughnuts, coffee and a range of beverages for more than 40 years, has died at age 91.
Porada began building the Donutville USA empire with its first location on Ford Road in 1966. Having served in the U.S. Coast Guard during the Korean War, the doughnut shop’s Independence Day opening was a nod to Porada’s patriotism.
Over the decades, Donutville USA expanded, with two additional locations in metro Detroit. The chain became a go-to destination for glazed bowties and cinnamon rolls, Bavarian cream doughnuts and, during one of the most exciting times of year for a bakery – paczki.
Porada’s favorite doughnut, his son Mark Porada said, was Donutville’s honey-dipped, which his father enjoyed with a twist.
“He’d break a strawberry-filled doughnut in half and squeeze the strawberry filling onto a plate,” Mark said. “Then, he’d break the honeydipped doughnut in half and dip it into the strawberry filling.”
Up until his death, Al would start his day breaking doughnuts and sipping coffee with friends at Donutville USA’s original, quintessentially midcentury modern Ford Road location. The previous locations have since closed.
In addition to founding Donutville USA and serving in the Coast Guard, Al was also a Dearborn Police officer of 20 years, a builder and a serial entrepreneur. In 1974, he retired from his post with the Dearborn Police Department and
in 2000, he retired from Donutville USA, passing the business down to sons Mark and John.
“The doughnut shop will always live on because that’s what he would want,” Mark said. “But it won’t be the same without him. He will be missed.”
Mark intends to continue his father’s legacy with fresh doughnuts and hot pots of coffee and said his son Luke, a baker, has expressed interest in keeping the family-run business going
for future generations.
On Dec. 7, Al enjoyed his usual doughnut and coffee for breakfast with friends and Buddy’s Pizza with his wife for dinner, a day filled with classic metro Detroit eats. He died peacefully in his sleep the morning of Dec. 8.
Al is survived by Ilda, his wife of 57 years, sons Mark and John and two grandchildren, Luke and Sydney.