A treat as dazzling as a Jack Frost donut deserves a logo that reflects its pure, sugary awesomeness. The Cleveland graphic designers at Go Media recently collaborated with the family-owned shop – an Old Brooklyn fan favorite since 1937 – on a brand refresh that modernizes the overall look while maintaining the iconic red-and-white that regulars recognize.

“People have come to know and love this brand because it’s been a neighborhood staple for so long,” Go Media Art Director Chris Comella said of the brand refresh strategy. “With that kind of an anchor, you want to revitalize, while keeping a part of the past alive.”

The brand refresh is being unveiled just in time for the shop’s grand re-opening party April 2nd, said Jack Frost Spokeswoman Erin Rodeno.

Every morning for nearly 80 years, the pastry artists have been busy baking fresh delicacies daily inside the same Pearl Road location. The old spot had been described by even the most supportive patrons as “funky,” “industrial” and even “weathered.”

“The building definitely needed an updated, new look,” Rodeno said. “We wanted to the store rise to the same level of quality as our donuts.”

And now, the sleek new shop mirrors the greatness of the goodies inside – more than 200 fabulous flavors in all. Going beyond the simple glazed, these confections are known for their creativity – festive themes, ornate decorations – and LOTS of creamy frosting!

“It’s still going to be the same great donut, “Rodeno said. “Everything is still baked fresh on a daily basis – nothing sitting overnight. But when you walk in, there are brand new tile floors, beautiful quartz counter tops, stainless steel shelving, a flat-screen television, a new coffee station, exposed stone on the walls. It truly looks beautiful – almost as beautiful as the donuts.”

It’s a restoration effort owner Fred Borkey Jr. hopes will spark the first of many local Cleveland business renovations on the block. While waiting out the construction, his crew has been selling their donuts out of a nearby re-purposed pizza joint.

Yet even with the storefront revamp, the brand refresh didn’t come without some reservations.

“There was a fear that if the branding changed, people would think the donuts were going to change too,” Rodeno said. “But in the end, it was really just time to do it, especially because of how much we have grown as a company.”

Go Media, she said, was “wonderful”  in bringing that vision to life – while still keeping the look recognizable.

“All the work they have done – everything we’ve asked for – has just been beautiful.”

One element Jack Frost knew they needed to alter was swapping the prominence of the word “Donuts” for “Jack Frost.” Many decades ago, one could rightly argue the word “Donuts” was more important; People needed to know right away what the store was selling. Today, “Jack Frost” is a household name that people immediately associate with delectable, artisan-quality donuts. The branding needed to show that shift.

The “O” in particular got special treatment, an obvious play on its donut-like shape. In the previous brand, the “O” was white on the boxes, but gold on the outdoor sign. It was a large, standout feature in both variations.

“We knew this was an aspect we wanted to keep,” Comella said. “So we just gave it some love. They really wanted to stick with a more classic image.”

It’s this classic take on doughnuts, after all, that has won Jack Frost the avid affection of the neighborhood where the shop has so long resided. It was recently voted one of Cleveland’s Best Small Places by the Cleveland Plain Dealer in 2016, No. 1 for Best Donut’s on Cleveland’s HotList in 2015 and NEO’s Best Donuts in 2014.

“This was really a special project for us, “Comella said. “I’ve lived here a long time, my friends and I go there and Jack Frost really does have the hands-down best donuts in town.”

If You Go

• What: Jack Frost Donuts Grand Re-Opening
• Celebrate: Green screens, music, balloons and lots of sweet treats
• Where: 4960 Pearl Road
• When: Saturday, April 2
• Time: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (Open for regular business that day from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.)
• Call: 216-351-3638

Contact the Cleveland brand refresh experts at Go Media by calling 216.939.0000 or contact us online.