Lava Shack Dawgs & Donuts — Restaurant in Springville

BE ADVISED The donuts are great. Really great. But these guys have done something really, really strange...

I’ve been here maybe 5 times. I ask for donuts. They make donuts. I pay for donuts. (Malasadas, obviously).

This last time was different. I ask for donuts. They make donuts. When I go to pay, they ask if I’ve heard about their pay it forward program. I say that I have not. They explain something about how I can pay it foward and pay for some else’s donuts OR I could not pay. I say that I didn’t quite understand. They say it again. I ask if I can just skip the program. They say I can, and just take the donuts for free. I say no, no, I want to just buy my donuts like I normally would. They say “well, you don’t HAVE to pay for them, but you could.” HA. But as long as it’s Venmo or Cash. I say… wait, I’m just saying I want to buy these donuts. They say yeah, right, with Venmo or cash — and you can decide how much to pay.

Confused? I was. So much so that I thought I might be part of a prank or scam. Finally, I realized that they would actually not accept a credit or debit card at all. AND that if I wanted to get donuts and NOT pay for them, that was an option they would accept.

Look, maybe I’m old fashioned, wanting to pay for things I buy and all that. But I have to believe that most folks showing up to a donut shop are expecting to pay for them.

My opinion, to the owners, here’s my opinion — rather than confuse each and every person coming through here, telling them they should be deciding whether or not they are going pay and how much, you should make a choice. If this is a charity, just give them away and don’t ask me to donate. If this is a business, please just take my money. If this is a social impact business, just take my money and give some profits to a local organization doing good. Or if you want to have impact via some free donuts, try doing 1 day of free donuts once a quarter. Or “buy 4 get 1 free”. Idk. Maybe you get a nice tax benefit and avoid sales tax?

If you’re thinking about coming here, they really are great malasadas. Just decide in advance whether or not you’re going to pay since it’s...

Dear Mr. or Mrs. Lava, I want to begin by saying I'm so deeply confused by the business that has been brought before our humble town of Springville. I want to start by saying that this building has been my home, dare I say Temple, for years. The previous donut shop that was here was truly an institution that brought me the child-like joy that we all truly search for in life. I also want to note that I frequented Clarks Malasada's and have been nothing short of a fan that single handedly paid the Clarks family bills for years. Now, when I say I'm confused that doesn't even BEGIN to describe the turmoil that pulses through my body. The emotion I get from even SEEING this business is truly devastating. I understand the concept of donuts, and I understand the concept of hot dogs separately. On the fourth day, when God created animals, he never could've imagined the combination of processed meat tubes and pillowy fluffy donuts together. The thought of both of these smells combined into this confined space is so much to take in. Thank God this business opened post-pandemic and we as people have access to masks to protect the hairs in our nostrils from singeing off. I don't quite understand the concept of a guava hot dog. And I CERTAINLY do not understand the phallic hot dog in a WHOLE BUN...

So amazing!!! I didn’t realize this place was open until today. And, I had no idea what they offered. My son and I went there and tried their Maui Bow-Wowee and a couple of malasadas, which we had only ever had recently in Oahu. I am in love with this place! I’ve never had a hot dog like this before. So yummy! And the malasada took me back to our vacation in Hawaii! I’m definitely going back and recommending it to everyone I know. I want them to be...