By Jennifer Conrad, Managing Editor
For our exclusive July Business Spotlight, we sat down with Alex McEntire, the founder and self-proclaimed “Chief Donut Officer” behind Scottsdale’s buzzworthy Chin Up Donuts. In the male-dominated world of food entrepreneurship, McEntire is rising to the top with brioche dough and an infectious positive attitude. She has turned her hobby of creating wildly creative donut flavors into a thriving empire with two popular Valley locations.
McEntire’s journey began quite literally in her one-bedroom apartment in Seattle. While working her corporate dream job at Amazon, the constant rain eventually got her down. “I started baking donuts as a sunny hobby,” she recalls. “I became obsessed with perfecting the brioche donut recipe – a delicious cross between a rich, buttery bread and a pastry.”
Not satisfied with stopping at a perfect brioche base, McEntire let her culinary creativity run wild, experimenting with glazes and toppings inspired by dishes she loved eating. “If I enjoyed a flavor in another food, I’d think about how I could turn it into a donut,” she says. This exploratory approach led to iconic Chin Up creations like the “Everything Bagel” donut coated with sesame seeds and everything bagel seasoning and buzzworthy collaborations with local restaurants like the “Brisket Brown Butter” donut topped with authentic brisket from Little Miss BBQ.
But the journey wasn’t all sunshine and donuts. As she fried donuts in her tiny kitchen and tested flavors at popup shops and farmers’ markets across the Pacific Northwest, the positive response gave McEntire the confidence to take the entrepreneurial leap. However, she also faced challenges such as increasing demand, maintaining quality, and balancing her corporate job with her growing business. In 2019, after an organizational shake-up at Amazon, she decided to move back home to Arizona and pursue Chin Up Donuts full-time.
McEntire spent months doing her due diligence, speaking to other local donut and coffee shop owners about costs and production, crunching numbers, and creating a business plan. “I had open-book conversations with five or six different shops to understand the financial side,” she says.
The real work began when she opened the flagship North Scottsdale location in November 2020 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. McEntire got scrappy, pivoting to contactless delivery of custom donut letter boxes that spelled out phrases like “Keep Your Chin Up” to continue her mission of spreading positivity during lockdowns. She also partnered with other local businesses on gift box collaborations.
Despite the challenging times, the Scottsdale community played a pivotal role in Chin Up Donuts’ immediate success. The City of Scottsdale partnered with the brand for community events, providing exposure and practical support. This demonstrated the brand’s success and positive impact on the community, a testament to the power of entrepreneurship in fostering local connections and support.
Reflecting on her journey, Alex McEntire underscores the significance of community and mentorship. ‘Having that tight-knit network of other local business owners who had been through it already was monumental,’ she notes. ‘The female founders group The Founders was also an incredible source of mentorship and community.’ This underscores the value of support and collaboration in the entrepreneurial journey, making the audience feel included and supported.
Securing financing for expansion has been one of the biggest roadblocks. Still, McEntire has slowly and responsibly grown Chin Up’s staff, production processes, and physical footprint to maintain quality and consistency. A second location opened in Old Town Scottsdale in late 2021 to meet demand, with more Valley expansions in the works for the next five years.
Chin Up Donuts’ success is about more than just its unique donut offerings and vibrant retro spaces. The brand’s mission, to create spaces that embody the whimsy, joy, and positivity that donuts give people, is a significant part of its draw. This mission is reflected in every aspect of the brand, from the playful donut flavors to the cheerful and welcoming store environments, creating a unique and memorable customer experience.
Fun Facts: When asked about her favorite donut, Alex doesn’t hesitate. “The Everything Bagel is my all-time favorite.” Another pick was the brisket-topped collaboration with Little Miss BBQ. If she could have anyone try her donuts, it would be Christina Tosi of Milk Bar fame and Phoenix Suns legend Charles Barkley.
As for plans, McEntire says, “We’re still a very young business with so much potential. My biggest focus is building the infrastructure and team to expand thoughtfully while staying true to our roots of creativity and positivity.” She envisions Chin Up Donuts brightening up every Valley neighborhood.
Her advice to aspiring entrepreneurs, especially women? “Do your research, talk to as many people as possible in your industry, and get your finances solid – but don’t wait for the ‘perfect’ time to start. You have to go for it.” With her infectious spirit, creative vision, and assistance from Scottsdale’s supportive entrepreneurial ecosystem, Chin Up Donuts’ sweet success is just beginning to rise.
