G'Day Donuts & More has an array of sweets

There's a little bit of England in the center of Loomis, courtesy Julie Welch of G'Day Donuts & More.A mural, games, signage, greenery and the coins on the bar all give the place an English feel, a tribute to Welch's late mother who was born in England. "The mural is based on places that mean something to my family … the place where my parents met when my dad was in the military, my mom's favorite sweet shop," Welch explained.Even though it's decorated to look like an English pub, the shop is the place to go for delicious breakfast items and sweets such as donuts and bars, as well as fresh coffee, hot chocolate, sodas and energy drinks."I have an array of donuts you can't imagine," Welch said. They include "monster huge" maple and chocolate bars, custard and jelly-filled donuts, raised and filled donuts, and old-fashioned donuts. There's also apple fritters, which she has discovered men seem to love. Welch calls her offerings "comfort food."G'Day Donuts is a family-run business. Welch operates the shop with the help of her daughters, Breanna, a Del Oro High School graduate attending CSU Sacramento, and Corynn, a Del Oro junior. Kevin Behnken is also on staff.Seven days a week, one of them must be at the shop at 4:30 a.m. to receive the donuts baked by a Carmichael supplier that morning and to get ready for the 6 a.m. opening. Coffee is made fresh throughout the day from beans roasted by Vanelli's Coffee of Rocklin.Kids going to school, men and women going to work, and those who just want to sit and chat while they have a cup of coffee and a "donut fix" have become G'Day's regular customers.Tim Bieu, a 46-year Loomis resident, is glad to see a donut shop in town. "It's the best shop. I'm glad it opened," he said.David Benjamin, of Loomis, dropped in Monday with his family. David, who'll be 13 on Dec. 26, is a fan of G'Day's cinnamon roll. "It's sweet," he said.Visiting G'Day won't ruin your budget. Donuts run from 89 cents for traditional donuts, to $1.50 for the fancy ones. Coffee is affordable, too, at $1.50 for the small size and $2 for a large. For those wishing to hook up to the Web, there's also free wifi access.G'Day Donuts & More is located at 5827 Horseshoe Bar Road, at Taylor, in the historical Loomis Mutual Supply building. Hours are 6 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Monday through Friday; and 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Sunday. The phone number is 652-4300.