American Doughnut Kitchen

Bringing an Iconic Melbourne Experience to Life at Prahran Market

Since 1950, American Doughnut Kitchen (ADK) has been serving smiles and the freshest, most mouth-watering hot jam doughnuts in Australia from their famous Queen Victoria Market van. Now, for the first time, ADK has expanded into a permanent physical store, bringing their nostalgic food truck experience into the historic Prahran Market.

Heard about our Design Services? We’re one of the few Melbourne fitout companies offering a complete service—from visualising your design to bringing it to life. Compare the renders with the final images as you read along. 

A Transformation Rooted in Tradition

From a small market van, American Doughnut Kitchen pumps out thousands of fresh, hot jam doughnuts daily. Not just a snack, each doughnut is an experience. It’s a nostalgic journey back in time to 1950s Melbourne. A piece of the past perfected over 70 years, now experienced and loved by locals and tourists alike. 

When designing their permanent location, we looked to capture this lively market energy, transforming a narrow, cold space into something vibrant and welcoming. A store that embodies ADK’s rich history within a modern café experience.  The design had to honour this legacy while evolving the brand for its next chapter.

ADK Render 6

Integrating History and Modernity

Drawing inspiration from the van that has been central to ADK’s identity for decades, we incorporated the same distinctive colour palette into the store’s design. Ceramic tiles resembling concrete flooring, arched walls, and curved suspended ceilings all evoke a sense of continuity between ADK’s past and present. Strategically placed pendant and track lighting illuminate key areas, creating an inviting environment for passersby.

The kitchen design features patterns and hues drawn directly from the brand’s iconic doughnut boxes. These small details create a cohesive atmosphere that harks back to the past while remaining true to modern shop fitout trends.

For staff, the workspace is designed to feel familiar, mirroring the intimacy of the van but with added comfort and space to enhance efficiency. For customers, the experience is a journey—from the moment they step into the store, greeted by the warmth of ADK’s colours and textures, to the joyful moment of leaving with a bag of their signature hot jam doughnuts.

ADK Render 1
ADK Shop Front low res

A Truly Timeless Shop Fitout

This project not only marks a new chapter for American Doughnut Kitchen but also pays homage to the decades of tradition that have made it an Australian icon. By merging expert design with nostalgic elements, we’ve created a space that feels both fresh and timeless—a perfect reflection of ADK’s enduring appeal.

At Canopy Fitouts we love taking our client’s vision and bringing it to life through creative design. Whether that be an office, restaurant, café or shop our team is uniquely positioned to create personal, productive and timeless fitouts for Melbourne businesses.

Consult the Canopy Fitouts team for your next office fitout – we don't mind giving you a little advice on cost, budgets, compliance, and space planning. Call us on 1800 434 868 or email info@canopyfitouts.com.au, and we would be more than happy to chat with you about bringing your vision to life.