Our Story | Ralph's Donut Shop

RALPH'S STORY

Learn how Ralph's captured a community's heart and became Cookeville's favorite tradition!

Ralph opened the shop in September of 1962 with his wife, Evelyn. The building was an old bus stop for

Cookeville and it's been rumored to have been an old grocery store before that. It began with only six stools until 1974 when Ralph and Evelyn remodeled the building and doubled the size of the business. Now, there are 26 stools and a small table with three chairs.

Ralph and Evelyn were heavily involved in the community. In the '60s, they sponsored men's softball teams and girls ponytail, softball teams. One of the men's teams went on to win the state championship in 1966.

A World War II veteran, Ralph was raised in Buffalo Valley. Evelyn was born in Overton County and worked in a shirt factory prior to her working with her husband's business.

The store was open 24 hours a day, seven days a week until 1992. The current hours are from 5 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, with no business conducted on Sundays. Nearly 150 dozen donuts are made during the early part of the week and 250 dozen a day are made on the weekends.

Jimmy has been working in his dad's store off and on since he was 16. He is one of the bakers who enjoy meeting the community's people, along with many out-of-towners. It has been a popular college hangout, with many Tennessee Tech alumni coming back to visit Ralph's. "Over the years, we lost the college group with the opening of other restaurants in town, but now they're starting to come back," Cynthia said. Jimmy recalls some of the fun and crazy things that have happened over the years. "Some of the coffee drinkers would request candles on their donuts when it's their birthday, or someone would request a cake or a very large donut to celebrate their dog's birthday and many other things happening during Tech's rush week." Speaking of coffee, Jimmy Mackie with IWC has stuck with them over the years. Cynthia believes that the building is haunted by one of their former third shift employees."We have heard weird things," she said. "The doors would slam shut on the showcase and people have reported seeing things."

Ralph's Story

RALPH'S TIMELINE

Timeline

Our Founding

Founded in 1962 by Ralph and Evelyn Smith, Ralph’s Donut Shop has served Cookeville for more than six decades, providing handmade donuts and baked goods that have become a regional favorite.

1962

The Spot

A decade later, the shop would become a favorite gathering place for Tennessee Tech University students, families, and community members. Located less than one mile from campus, Ralph's would become a staple for generations of students who stopped in after classes, late-night study sessions, and during homecoming weekends--not to mention everyone from locals, to those across the state and nationally.