Mr. Ronnie’s Famous Hot Donuts has been a beloved staple in Houma, Louisiana, since it opened on March 19, 1994—St. Joseph’s Day. Founded by Ronnie and Linda Picou, the story of Mr. Ronnie’s goes back to 1976, when Ronnie first entered the donut business by purchasing a Tastee Donuts franchise from the legendary Al Copeland Sr.

Under Ronnie’s dedicated leadership, what was once the lowest-performing location quickly became the top-performing unit in the New Orleans area. For eight years, his Houma store remained one of the highest-grossing Tastee Donuts locations until he sold it in 1984, agreeing to a ten-year non-compete.

When that non-compete expired, Ronnie returned to his passion, founding Mr. Ronnie’s Famous Hot Donuts. The name itself was a gift from the community, who would call him over the years, saying, “Mr. Ronnie, we miss your famous hot donuts.” After years of setbacks and perseverance, the first Mr. Ronnie’s opened its doors on Tunnel Blvd, dedicated to St. Joseph—a tradition that continues today, with the Picou family sponsoring the Saint Joseph Altar at local churches.