Sound Bites: ‘Donut’ overlook this Midtown bakery
Jacques Louise gluten-free bakery in Midtown Memphis serves doughtnuts on weekends only. (Courtesy Jacques Louise)
There’s at least one treat that people say they’ve driven hours for — and even shed a few tears over — at Jacques Louise Bakery.
The bakery’s owner Savannah Kenney said it’s a new product she introduced after the shop moved from Overton Square to 585 Cooper St. in July. She also said its grown the business by 40 percent “pretty much overnight.”
It’s a gluten-free, fried, yeast doughnut.
“You can get a baked gluten-free doughnut. You can buy them frozen ... it’s not the same. A cake doughnut just isn’t gonna hit the same spot when it comes to texture,” she said.
Savannah Kenney posed for a portrait at Jacques Louise’s first brick-and-mortar location in Overton Square in May 2025. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)
Kenney joined me on the Sound Bites podcast to talk about Jacques Louise’s gluten-free doughnuts, which are sold only on Saturdays and Sundays.
We also talked about why, after merely a year in business, Kenney and her husband Phillip Kenney moved to the current location and built out an entirely new bakery.
For more background on Savannah Kenney’s celiac disease diagnosis and her journey from wedding photographer to bakery owner, check out her appearance on season 8 episode 23 of Sound Bites.
This time, we catch up about the move, the business’ growth (and the staff that’s made it possible) and why you should not say that the shop is located in Cooper-Young.
Gluten-free Jacques Louise Bakery moved to the former Muddy’s Midtown space at 585 S. Cooper St. in summer 2026. (Sophia Surrett/The Daily Memphian file)
Jacques Louise Bakery has a patio area. (Sophia Surrett/The Daily Memphian file)
We talked about how the former Muddy’s Midtown spot that became a beignet spot that became a cafe might finally be hitting its stride as Jacques Louise Bakery.
I also asked Kenney about what’s coming on the fall and holiday menus (cinnamon is involved) and how she wants people to feel when they come into the gluten-free, allergy-friendly space.
As for where someone like her feels she can safely eat out? The list is very short these days.
Listen (or watch) the full interview below.
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Topics
Sound Bites Jacques Louise Jacques Louise Gluten-Free Bakery Savannah Kenney doughnutsHolly Whitfield
Holly has more than 13 years of experience in publishing and digital content, including 10 years at the helm of the I Love Memphis Blog. She began her career at The Commercial Appeal and is author of Secret Memphis.
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