ROCville
Rochester, NY
BusinessesDonuts Delite

Donuts Delite

food-beveragebakery

Historic donut shop originally opened in 1958, revived in 2010 by the Salvatore's family. Serves donuts made from original recipes, full breakfast, and Salvatore's lunch and dinner menu.

Overview

Donuts Delite is a Rochester donut shop and breakfast spot at the corner of Culver Road and Empire Boulevard on the city's east side. Originally opened in 1958 by Jim Malley, the shop operated as a family business for 47 years before closing in 2005. The Malley family's baking roots in the Rochester area trace back to the 1860s, when Bob Malley's great-grandfather baked soda crackers shipped via the Erie Canal. In 2010, Sam Fantauzzo of Salvatore's Pizzeria purchased the building, restored period details like tin ceilings and retro tables, and reopened Donuts Delite on January 12 of that year — using the original Malley family recipes with the family's blessing. The shop is currently owned and operated by Nick Semeraro, a longtime member of the Salvatore's family.

What They Offer

Donuts Delite serves a full lineup of fresh donuts alongside a breakfast and lunch menu tied to the Salvatore's kitchen. Donut options include:

  • Cannoli donut — a soft donut shell filled with cannoli cream
  • Triple chocolate — chocolate-filled, chocolate-dipped, with chocolate drizzle
  • Yeast-raised donuts with raspberry jelly filling and classic glaze
  • Long johns in chocolate-dipped, Bavarian cream, and maple cream varieties
  • Buttermilk donuts topped with white icing and Fruity Pebbles
  • Oversized apple fritters

The full breakfast menu, served daily starting at 6 a.m., includes omelettes, frittatas, skillets, breakfast sandwiches on your choice of donut, bagel, croissant, or English muffin, and breakfast pizza with eggs, ham, cheese, and potatoes. Salvatore's pizza and dinner items are also available, and the shop offers catering.

Known For

Donuts Delite is known for its cannoli donut — a signature item that bridges the shop's donut tradition with the Salvatore's family's Italian roots. The shop's identity also rests on its continuity with the original 1958 recipes and the restored mid-century interior, which gives the Culver Road location a distinctly retro feel. A second location opened at 674 West Ridge Road in 2022, expanding the shop's reach to Rochester's west side.

Location & Neighborhood

The original Donuts Delite sits at 1700 Culver Road at the intersection with Empire Boulevard, in a residential stretch of Rochester's east side. The corner location has been a neighborhood fixture since 1958. The building retains its vintage character after the 2010 restoration. Street parking is available along Culver Road. The shop is a short drive from the merchants along the Culver Road Corridor and the nearby Bay neighborhood leading toward Irondequoit Bay.

Sources used in compiling this entry

13wham.com·ddelite.com·salvatores.com·visitrochester.com

Address

1700 Culver Rd

Rochester, NY 14609

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Last updated May 14, 2026