Founded by Carl and Isobel (Chandler) Madsen in 1936, Madsen Donuts began in Niles, Ohio, and moved to Geneva-on-the-Lake two years later. Like many businesses on The Strip, it provided summer jobs for local high school and college students, and the shop was busy enough to require two shifts. Carl Madsen, known as "Pappy" to his employees, often personally invited teens to start work there, usually beginning with folding thousands of boxes each week, and he insisted on careful procedures and attention to detail to maintain a consistent, quality product. Madsen also served as mayor of the village and, from 1942 to 1944, operated a doughnut shop in St. Petersburg, Florida. Carl, a Minnesota native, and his artist wife, Isobel, made their home at Mapleton Beach and raised their sons Carl Jr. and Kris while living in the village. The Madsens sold their Geneva-on-the-Lake shop to Harry and Bev Biery in 1974, and their son Keith Biery now owns it, continuing to use the founders' ingredients and recipes. Little has changed in the recipes and storefront appearance, and Carl Madsen's tactic of venting fryer smells onto the sidewalk to attract customers is still evident. Isobel Madsen also taught art in Youngstown, and her 1950s comic-book-style rendition of Geneva-on-the-Lake can be seen at the visitors bureau.