Restaurateur Jason Quinn, a rising star chef in Orange County, has found himself in unfamiliar territory: operating a struggling business.

In late 2014, the chef-owner of The Playground opened Dough Exchange next door to his critically acclaimed restaurant in downtown Santa Ana. But the Fourth Street bakery has struggled to generate foot traffic and sales, forcing Quinn to toss out freshly baked goods and breads every night.

In attempt to resuscitate the storefront, Quinn told the Register on Thursday that he’s going to offer baked goods for free starting Friday. Dine-in customers will be limited to two items such as doughnuts, pastries, and meat pies. In exchange for the free food, Quinn is asking customers to fill out a form that provides him feedback on what they like and dislike about the food and prices.

“It’s the ultimate R&D experiment,” Quinn said.

Quinn said he’ll be testing about 10 new recipes a day. Donations will be accepted, he said. A doughnut and a meat pie, combined, normally costs about $5 to $7. Beverages will not be included. Quinn understands the experiment is a risk, but he said it is necessary to become a viable bakery in the area.

He plans to conclude the experiment when Fourth Street Market opens across the street. The food hall, created by downtown developer Ryan Chase, is scheduled to open in early February, according to city officials.

Quinn is debuting three separate eateries at the market: a burger stand, a fried chicken stand and a Thai eatery. He plans to move Dough Exchange into the culinary marketplace, where he thinks it will have a better chance at surviving.

The current Dough Exchange storefront, at 220 E. Fourth St., will turn into production space, he said. The bakery is open Wednesday through Sunday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Tell us: What do you think of this experiment? Write in and let us know.

Contact the writer: nluna@ocregister.com or @fastfoodmaven on Twitter