At Sweets by Sweet Waters (10015 St. Charles Rock), Byron Waters offers what he calls the “best doughnuts in the city, and that’s on my momma.”
The St. Louis native, who makes genre-blending hip-hop music under the moniker Zeus Rebel Waters, hopes to give back to his hometown by providing a gathering place that offers much more than just sweets.
“My thing is music, community, and sweets, so I wanted to get a place where I can bring all of that together,” he says. In addition to regularly serving fresh doughnuts and local products—including bundt cakes, pickles, and lemonade—Waters offers an on-site music rehearsal and events space, as well as a podcast room for kids of all ages to use. “This is for St. Louis,” he says.
The storefront opened January 31 in St. Ann. Here’s what to know before you go.
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The Menu
Waters fell in love with the idea of opening a doughnuts shop during one of his many travels as a globetrotting entertainer. While visiting Grand Island, Nebraska, a few years ago, he discovered a colorful bakeshop named Paradise Donuts and set his sights on someday creating a version of his own.
Two years ago, Waters started the business on a delivery-only basis. He credits longtime friend, mentor, and previous music manager Pepe Kehm, who owns Clayton-based Italian eatery Peno, for connecting him with the pastry chef behind Sweets by Sweet Water’s signature yeast doughnuts.
“He’s a gentleman who’s been making doughnuts for more than 30 years,” Waters says. “It’s not a Krispy Kreme or QuikTrip doughnuts. It’s someone putting blood, sweat, and tears into the product through late nights and early mornings.”
At Sweets by Sweet Waters’ new brick-and-mortar home, guests can expect to find an assortment of classic doughnuts, such as long johns and jelly-filled, alongside some signature flavors.
The Bling Bling comes with a lemony custard topping, and the Pop Star gets its crunch from a craggly crown of Fruity Pebbles. The St. Lunatic features a glazed doughnuts topped with a smattering of Red Hot Riplets for a uniquely salty, spicy treat.
In addition to canned beverages and assorted packaged snacks, the shop offers a couple of local creations: mini glazed bundt cakes by Misha and Signature Sips small-batch lemonade.
The Atmosphere
The shop’s standalone building on St. Charles Rock Road previously housed a cash and title loan business. Waters knew that he could give it a vibrant new life. The North County denizen filled the main room’s walls with pink, yellow, and green colorblocked walls, decorated with paintings from local artist D Long.
“We just wanted to go with something that was bright and poppy, so when you walk in here, you feel happy,” Waters says.
A grassy photo backdrop gives guests another opportunity to stop and smile. Shelves come stocked with a small selection of chips and candy, while coolers filled with cold drinks and ice cream await by the doughnut counter.
In adjoining rooms, visitors will find a podcast studio and a rehearsal stage lined with portraits of local music greats. The venue serves as an empty canvas for everything from adult karaoke nights to a home for Waters’ nonprofit endeavors, including Starr Camp, a free music and arts summer camp for elementary-age children. (Waters will host a fundraising concert at The Dark Room on April 11 to benefit the program.)
The Backstory
Under his former rapper persona, Ruka Puff, Waters spent decades as the “underground king of the hip-hop scene.” He toured with the likes of Nelly, Chingy, and more. Now, as Zeus Rebel Waters, he offers his own brand of hip-hop, referred to as “music gumbo. An educator, Waters also created Reading with Rappers, a local literacy program for young students.
With Sweets by Sweet Waters, Waters hopes to continue sharing his decades of artistic experiences to support others. The multi-purpose, neighborhood-focused space seamlessly combines his passion for philanthropy and sweet treats under one roof.
“Everything we do is with love,” Waters says. “There’s no sweets shop like this in St. Louis—or maybe anywhere.”
Sweets by Sweet Waters
📍 10015 St. Charles Rock, St. Ann
📞 314-374-3307
⏰ 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Mon–Fri, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Sat
