Voodoo Doughnut Closes Venice Beach Location After One Year

Voodoo Doughnut, the Portland-based doughnut chain known for its distinctive flavors and considerable following, has closed its Venice Beach location after approximately one year in business. The store, located at 66 Windward Avenue, ceased operations sometime in June.

While the company's website still lists the Venice location, the provided phone number is no longer active. The closure has come as a surprise to many in the neighborhood who had patronized the establishment, particularly for its late-night hours and signature items like the VooDoo Doll doughnut and Bacon Maple Bars.

The Venice Beach outlet, which opened in June 2025, was part of Voodoo Doughnut's expansion efforts beyond its original Portland roots. The company previously established a presence in California with a location at Universal CityWalk Hollywood in 2017. The Venice closure marks a brief venture in the beachside community.

Following online discussions about the closure, some local patrons speculated that a lack of demand for doughnuts in the Venice area, or the high cost of rent in the beachfront locale, contributed to the shutdown. One social media comment suggested that existing doughnut shops like Dunkin' already satisfied local demand.

Another perspective shared online pointed to broader issues in the area, with one user stating, "Retail vacancies all over the west side due to the same thing. Greed. Many of the buildings are now corporate owned just like housing. That’s a massive part of homelessness." This sentiment alluded to concerns about corporate ownership of commercial properties and its potential impact on local businesses and homelessness.

As of now, Voodoo Doughnut has not issued an official statement regarding the reasons for the closure of its Venice Beach store. It remains unclear if the company intends to maintain a presence elsewhere in the West Los Angeles area. Staff members reached for comment did not confirm the closure of the Venice location.

The company continues to operate multiple locations in Portland and has expanded to other cities across the United States.