We Did It, Medford: Happy Place Homemade Named One of USA TODAY's 10 Best Donut Shops in America

Pinch us. Or better yet — hand us a donut, because we are celebrating over here.

Happy Place Homemade has officially been named one of the 10 Best Donut Shops in America by USA TODAY. Not the 10 best in Medford. Not in South Jersey. Not even in the Garden State. The whole country.

For a little scratch-made shop in a converted bank on Stokes Road, that still feels a little surreal to say out loud. But here we are — sharing a national list with the best donut makers in the country, and proudly flying the New Jersey flag right alongside our friends at Hill Donut Co. & Pancake House in Mullica Hill. Two Jersey shops on one national list. The Garden State knows its donuts, and now the rest of America does too.

How a Hometown Dream Became a National Headline

If you've been here, you already know this place is personal.

Happy Place Homemade is the dream of Medford native Tyler Gerber, who grew up right here always wishing the town had a spot — somewhere you could grab a great cup of coffee, run into a neighbor, and stick around longer than you planned. After studying business in Philadelphia and falling for the food culture of the city, he came home with a mission: build the gathering place Medford never had.

So he took a former Bank of America branch at 690 Stokes Road (yes, that's why there's a drive-thru — we kept the good part), and turned it into something bright, nostalgic, and entirely our own. We opened our doors in January 2026. Earning a national nod just months later? We're still floating.

What Makes a Happy Place Donut a Happy Place Donut

We're not a "grab it and forget it" kind of donut. We're a "where have you been all my life" kind of donut.

Everything here is made from scratch with old-school techniques and a whole lot of love. Our cake donuts are mixed fresh every single day and made right in front of you, all day long. Then they're hand-glazed, dipped, and drizzled into the lineup you see in the case.

Here's how the menu breaks down:

• The Classics — the ones that started it all. Original glazed and chocolate, done right.

• The Signatures — where we get to have a little fun. Think Inside-Out Boston Crème, wildberry cheesecake, s'mores, banana crumb, and brown butter.

• The Minis — bite-sized in powdered sugar, sugar-coated, or cinnamon toast. Pair them with our soft serve and suddenly you've built yourself a donut sundae. You're welcome.

  
  

And we don't stop at donuts. We've got swirly, dreamy soft serve, hand-spun shakes, and La Colombe coffee to round out the whole experience — morning, noon, and night.

"New Nostalgia," One Core Memory at a Time

There's a phrase we use around here a lot: new nostalgia. It's the feeling of biting into something that tastes like being a kid again, with a twist you didn't see coming. For Tyler, it all started with a strawberry frosted donut that takes him straight back to childhood — and that feeling is baked into everything we make.

That's also why our slogan is "your new go-to spot for making core memories." Because the donuts are wonderful, sure. But the real magic is the dad-and-daughter Saturday morning, the after-practice soft serve, the friends who came for one donut and stayed for three. That's the happy place we set out to build.

Come Find Your Happy Place

Being recognized by USA TODAY is an incredible honor — but the truth is, you are the reason we're on that list. Every visit, every drive-thru order, every "you have to try this place" text to a friend got us here. Thank you, Medford. Thank you, New Jersey. We are so grateful.

Now come celebrate with us. The case is full, the soft serve machines are humming, and there's a donut in there with your name on it.

Happy Place Homemade

📍 690 Stokes Road, Medford, NJ

🕖 Open daily 7 AM – 9 PM (closed Tuesdays) — dine in or hit the drive-thru

📞 609-969-9650 | happyplacehomemade.com

Happiness… served daily.