Donut Land wins third place award at Donut Fest Cleveland

BRUNSWICK — Local bakery Donut Land won the crowd favorite second runner-up award at Donut Fest Cleveland on Sunday. Donut Land has been in business for 50 years and makes homemade donuts fresh almost daily. The company was started by Bill Rienerth Sr. who died last year and is now operated by his granddaughter Amanda Rienerth. Donut Fest Cleveland is a competition between local bakeries and coffee shops and this was Donut Land's first year being invited, Rienerth said. Other bakeries competing this year included Bigmouth Donut Company, Peace, Love & Little Donuts of Westpark, Duck Donuts, Funomono Donuts, The Mad Batter Bakeshop and Marta's n' More Bakery Store. Donut Land brought mini versions of some of its popular products such as apple fritters, nut rolls and creme sticks with different flavors like maple and vanilla. Before choosing what to bring, a Facebook poll was put out to decide what customers thought should be there, yet there was no clear fan favorite. "We here at the shop had a hard time deciding because everyone was so proud of all the things that we make," Rienerth said. "They wanted to bring everything." Even other competitors came up to the Donut Land booth before the event started and praised its products, which was a high honor, Rienerth said. "It was a good time because we got to see what else is out there as far as different donuts," she said. "Just to bond with other people that know what it's like baking all through the night and working hard to decorate for the busy morning hours." It felt like her grandfather was there with them at the competition, Rienerth said. "It was an honor to be able to compete with my grandfather's doughnuts," she said. "I wish that he would have been able to have the chance to do that." Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.