Geneva Township in Geneva-on-the-Lake in Ashtabula County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Madsen Donuts

Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, May 25, 2025

1. Madsen Donuts Marker

Inscription.

Madsen Donuts. . Founded by Carl and Isobel (Chandler) Madsen in 1936, Madsen Donuts originated in Niles, Ohio. The couple moved the shop to Geneva-on-the-Lake two years later. , Like many of the businesses on The Strip, Madsen provided summer jobs for high school and college students from this area. The donut shop was so busy, two shifts were required. Teens usually got their start at Madsen's with a personal invitation from Carl, who was acquainted with just about every family in the village. A new hire's first job was folding boxes, literally thousands of them a week. , Known as "Pappy" to his employees, Carl Madsen insisted procedures be followed and attention given to details to ensure a consistent, quality product. , Madsen also served as mayor of the village, and from 1942 to 1944 operated a doughnut shop in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Madsens sold their GOTL shop to Harry and Bev Biery in 1974. The Biery's son, Keith, now owns Madsen's and uses the same honored ingredients and recipes used by its founders., Insets , Right: , Carl "Pappy" Madsen is gave many young people their start in the world of work and business. A Minnesota native, Carl and his artist wife, Isobel, made their home at Mapleton Beach and raised two sons, Carl Jr. and Kris, while living in the village. , Little has changed about Madsen Donuts, including the recipes and storefront appearance. This photo shows some of the workers in 1966. From left are: Patty Sherwood, Maureen Grady, Linda Beck Chapman, Charlie Tarantina and Mark "Scratch" Brunner. , Carl Madsen preferred that teens fill the afternoon shift and older workers take the morning shift. At top, a group of teens clown around for Jack Sargent's Camera. Jack is shown working on glazed doughnuts, one of the "advanced" tasks., GOTL Trivia, Carl Madsen understood the irresistible smell of sugar and hot grease. He capitalized on this by venting the shop's fryer onto the sidewalk so passersby would be tempted by the sweet aroma coming from within the shop. The vent is still there!, Isobel Madsen was an artist and taught art in Youngstown. Her comic-book style rendition of GOTL in the 1950s can be seen at the visitors bureau.

Founded by Carl and Isobel (Chandler) Madsen in 1936, Madsen Donuts originated in Niles, Ohio. The couple moved the shop to Geneva-on-the-Lake two years later.

Like many of the businesses on The Strip, Madsen provided summer jobs for high school and college students from this area. The donut shop was so busy, two shifts were required. Teens usually got their start at Madsen's with a personal invitation from Carl, who was acquainted with just about every family in the village. A new hire's first job was folding boxes, literally thousands of them a week.

Known as "Pappy" to his employees, Carl Madsen insisted procedures be followed and attention given to details to ensure a consistent, quality product.

Madsen also served as mayor of the village, and from 1942 to 1944 operated a doughnut shop in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Madsens sold their GOTL shop to Harry and Bev Biery in 1974. The Biery's son, Keith, now owns Madsen's and uses the same honored ingredients and recipes used by its founders.

Insets

Right:
Carl "Pappy" Madsen is gave many young people their start in the world of work and business. A Minnesota native,

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Carl and his artist wife, Isobel, made their home at Mapleton Beach and raised two sons, Carl Jr. and Kris, while living in the village.

Little has changed about Madsen Donuts, including the recipes and storefront appearance. This photo shows some of the workers in 1966. From left are: Patty Sherwood, Maureen Grady, Linda Beck Chapman, Charlie Tarantina and Mark "Scratch" Brunner.

Carl Madsen preferred that teens fill the afternoon shift and older workers take the morning shift. At top, a group of teens clown around for Jack Sargent's Camera. Jack is shown working on glazed doughnuts, one of the "advanced" tasks.

GOTL Trivia

Carl Madsen understood the irresistible smell of sugar and hot grease. He capitalized on this by venting the shop's fryer onto the sidewalk so passersby would be tempted by the sweet aroma coming from within the shop. The vent is still there!

Isobel Madsen was an artist and taught art in Youngstown. Her comic-book style rendition of GOTL in the 1950s can be seen at the visitors bureau.

Erected by Ashtabula County Civic Development Corporation, Geneva-on-the-Lake, Sponsored by Madsen Donuts in memory of

Madsen Donuts image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, May 25, 2025

2. Madsen Donuts

This local donut shop has been in operation at Geneva-on-the-Lake since 1938.

Carl Madsen.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1936.

Location. 41° 51.624′ N, 80° 57.057′ W. Marker is in Geneva-on-the-Lake, Ohio, in Ashtabula County. It is in Geneva Township. It can be reached from Lake Road East east of Golf Avenue, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5426 Lake Rd East, Geneva OH 44041, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Ohio’s Lake Erie Shore

and in the Western Reserve.

It is also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Warner's Colonial (within shouting distance of this marker); Sturgeon Point (within shouting distance of this marker); Miniature Golf

Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, May 25, 2025

3. Madsen Donuts

(within shouting distance of this marker); Allison's Mini Golf 100th Anniversary 1924-2024 (within shouting distance of this marker); Pier Ballroom (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The New Inn (about 400 feet away); Fascination (about 500 feet away); Olympic Midway (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Geneva-on-the-Lake.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 9, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 29, 2025, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 159 times since then and 44 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 29, 2025, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.