Junction Fair is proud to be home to retailers who bring heart, innovation, and community spirit to the local area. Our “We are Junction Fair” series is a little shout out we’ve put together to those we feel are shining examples.
Follow along on our social media channels as we share their stories over the coming months.
We recently chatted with Anna, business owner and operator at Doughheads. Here’s what she had to say…
How has Doughheads grown or changed since you first opened your doors?
Oh, we’ve come a long way from rolling dough in my home kitchen and hustling at local markets! DoughHeads started as this wild little dream – just me, a mixer and two small deep fryers in a converted space at home. From there, we levelled up to a commercial kitchen while slinging doughnuts at every market we could find, slowly building a bit of a cult following.
Then came the pop-up stage, our first taste of retail life, before we took the plunge and built our flagship store and kitchen at The Junction Fair in 2016. That was a huge moment: it meant our kitchen and front-of-house teams could finally work side by side and our customers could see the love and chaos that goes into every doughnut, coffee and shake we serve.
Fast forward to December 2022, we gave the space in The Junction Fair a cheeky glow-up. We extended the kitchen to make room for our house-made gelato (because why stop at doughnuts?), updated the front-of-house with slick new branding and went full retro, milk-bar vibes. It’s been a wild ride, from humble beginnings to becoming a bit of an icon in Newcastle. And we’re still growing, one delicious doughnut and scoop of gelato at a time.
What’s a memorable moment you’ve shared with the community?
The community we’ve built with Newcastle is at the heart of everything we do. Whether it’s a coffee catch-up, a birthday treat, or a once-a-year tradition, being part of those moments, big or small, makes it all so worthwhile. It’s never just about the doughnuts; it’s about the connections we’ve made along the way.
What’s a challenge you’ve faced at Doughheads, and how did you overcome it?
Small business is never short on challenges—trust me, we’ve seen it all. From navigating a global pandemic to dealing with skyrocketing costs and staffing shortages, if there’s a curveball, we’ve copped it. But what’s kept us going is the incredible community of business owners around us. There’s always someone ready to lend an ear, share advice, or just say, “You’ve got this.” It’s a tough gig, but being surrounded by people who genuinely want to see each other grow makes all the difference.
What made you choose Junction Fair as the home of your business?
The Junction is centrally located to the beach, the CBD and to our community, that’s why we love it here
What’s something surprising or little-known about your time at Junction Fair?
We have nearly been at The Junction Fair for 9 years! It’s crazy how fast time flies when you’re having fun!
How would you describe the vibe at Junction Fair to someone visiting for the first time?
Relaxed shopping with everything you need at your fingertips
What’s your favourite moment in a typical day at Doughheads?
The moment a customer walks through the door and I have a chance to connect with them and add a dash of joy to their day – that’s my favourite part of it all.
What are you most excited about as Doughheads continues to grow?
Honestly, I’m most excited about continuing to grow our community and deepening the connections we’ve built with our customers. We’re always dreaming up new ways to add a little extra joy to people’s days—whether it’s through wild, over-the-top flavours, unexpected collabs, or just creating a space that feels like a good time from the moment you walk in. If we can keep surprising and delighting every person who steps through the door, then we’re doing something right.
Is there anything new or exciting coming up that you’d love to share with the Junction Fair community?
We’ve got some pretty exciting things coming up! In mid-July, we’re heading down to the national doughnut competition—yep, that’s a thing—and we’re bringing some bold new flavours to take our shot. We’ve taken out 1st place for our Pump Up The Jam Doughnut in Australia and placed 2nd in the glazed category two years running… so fingers crossed this year we bring home the champion show doughnut (the big one!). Then in August, we celebrate 11 years in business—an incredible milestone for any small biz—and we’ll be marking the occasion with fresh new doughnut and gelato flavours we can’t wait to share with our Junction Fair community.