Waddup Dough Brings Flavor, Family and Purpose to the Twin Cities

When you walk into Waddup Dough, a vibrant new desert shop in St. Anthony Village located in the heart of the Twin Cities metro, you’re greeted by bright colors, warm smiles, and a sense that this space is about more than sweets. For owner Seneca Little, this business is deeply personal and rooted in family, balance, and purpose.

Waddup Dough celebrated its grand opening in May at 2700 39th Ave NE in St. Anthony Village which borders Northeast Minneapolis to the south.

A Shift from Discipline to Balance

It may be surprising to some that Seneca started out in the fitness world, but after years of rigid discipline, he realized he was missing something.

“It was strictly fitness—
lived it, breathed it, ate it. But then I realized that I'm missing time with family, missing time with friends, so I've got to have some balance." To Seneca, Waddup Dough represents that balance—a place where joy, community, and wellness can coexist. The menu includes colorful donuts and boba drinks, both infused with ice cream.

Business Roots and Personal Purpose

A Chicago native, Seneca traces his entrepreneurial spark to childhood. “I was six years old when my mom took me to my great uncle’s record store in Chicago. I didn’t know it was his, so when my mom told me, I was so surprised that somebody who looks like me could actually own something.”

That spark led to a lifetime in business, from fitness companies to logistics, but Waddup Dough feels different. “I love business and I love people,” he says. “Business is my passion, but people are my purpose.”

It’s a purpose that shows up in the shop’s energy. Seneca and his family—including his kids—run the store together. “My little one’s running around. He’s the manager,” he jokes. “I wanted to do something where we can relax and build it together and have fun while doing it.”

Designing Joy, Honoring Roots

The name Waddup Dough came from a family brainstorm. “It’s kind of like a greeting! ‘Waddup Dough?’ You want to say it,” Seneca laughs. The space itself is a nostalgic tribute to his childhood and creative family. “I’m an 80s baby. I like the bright vibrant colors.”

A mural of the Minneapolis skyline on a back wall holds deeper meaning, a nod to when Seneca moved to Minnesota at age 12. 

“We came here homeless. We left everything in Chicago,” remembers Seneca. “It was night time and when we came into town, the Minneapolis skyline was the first thing I seen. To me, it represented a fresh start and a new journey, and I wanted that skyline in here to remind me of that 12 year old boy whose eyes were so big.”

A Role Model for What’s Possible

For Seneca, the shop is more than a family business, it’s a symbol of possibility for others, especially kids who share his background. “I want young people to know that it doesn’t matter your beginnings,” he says. “If you have some direction, if you have a goal and a dream, it can come to life.”

Seneca knows representation is powerful. “I seen my uncle who looked like me own a record store, so that just clicked. It’s important for other kids who may come from similar backgrounds to also see that where I’m at today isn’t where I have to be.”

Ultimately, Seneca views Waddup Dough as a calling more than a career. “I’m not searching for material gains as much,” he says. “It’s more so about living my purpose while pursuing my passions.”