Teenagers, 20-year-old now running Denton Square Donuts

by Michelle Heath of North Texas Daily

The family plans to keep the shop’s original concept but hopes to incorporate more music and fundraising events.

Photo by Michelle Heath

Camden Besselman, co-owner of Denton Square Donuts, bought the shop on May 1, 2012 with her mom and brothers.

Something’s changed at Denton Square Donuts.

The donuts are still square, art still adorns the walls, and the coffee is still brewed every morning. But now two teenagers and a 20-year old are calling most of the shots.

Denton resident Jackie Strausz and her three children – Camden, Hunter, and Jett Besselman – bought the donut dispensary on May 1.

Twenty-year-old Camden, a vocal performance sophomore at Texas Woman’s University, saw the shop was up for sale in a Facebook post April 18. Camden emailed the owners to let them know she and her brothers were interested. A week and a half later, the family had a pastry store to call their own.

“Everything was pretty spontaneous and unexpected,” Camden said. “I definitely didn’t think I would become an owner of Denton Square Donuts.”

Camden, along with Hunter, 16, and Jett, 14, combined their savings to pay for about three-quarters of the shop, and mom chipped in the rest. The grand total came to about $20,000.

When Camden first suggested buying the shop, Strausz said she thought it would be a good home-school project for Jett and Hunter. Now the teenagers’ artwork lines the walls and Camden can be heard singing at in-store music performances.

“We really, really want to support local artists and musicians,” Strausz said. “It’s a lot more than a donut shop to us: It supports their interests and their goals.”

Strausz said owning and managing the shop helps her children meet new people and gain experience in business.

“It is much more than just baking and selling donuts,” Camden said. “I have to admit that during the first month of owning Denton Square Donuts, the workload was pretty overwhelming.”

New additions to the baked lineup include the mixed berry crunch, candy apple, PBJ, and La Tortuga donuts.

The new owners host fundraisers for local charities, and Camden said that whenever there’s leftover food, the family donates it to Vision Ministries, a program that helps feed and clothe the homeless.

The family plans to keep the shop’s original concept but hopes to incorporate more music and fundraising events, as well as expand the menu to include soups and sandwiches.

“I really do enjoy working with my family,” Camden said. “We are all pretty close, and have the same dreams and goals for what we hope Denton Square Donuts can become.”