See drone video of The Donut Whole’s rooster getting a rooftop makeover

Big Ed the Rooster, the mascot and recognizable rooftop decoration atop Wichita’s The Donut Whole, got a high-altitude makeover on Tuesday.

Since he first perched atop the building at 1720 E. Douglas back in 2009, Big Ed had survived sun, snow and storms, and it took a toll on his vibrant red waddle and bright yellow beak. He was looking positively faded, noticed new owners Tariq and Raissa Azmi when they took over the shop in May.

He needed a touch-up, they decided. So on Tuesday, they sent local artist Alonzo Snipes up on to the roof to do the job. Now, Ed is back to looking like he did in his younger days.

The rooster, who was named D.W. Buttermilk by The Donut Whole’s original owners but dubbed “Big Ed,” is nine-feet tall and made of fiberglass. He cost a couple of thousand dollars and was ordered from Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., back when the shop first opened.

It took Snipes almost all day to get the job done, but Ed is looking good, Tariq said.

He’s looking so good, an employee had an idea: Maybe they should rig Ed so that he crows every day when new batches of doughnuts are ready.

The store is checking into the neighborhood’s noise ordinance, Tariq said with a laugh.