Local family donut shops weather pandemic

By R. Hans Miller | News Editor
Posted 3/10/21

One would think the American sweet tooth would make it easy for a donut shop to survive the pandemic, add a selection of kolaches in Texas – and that seems even more of a sure thing. However, …

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Local family donut shops weather pandemic

Posted

One would think the American sweet tooth would make it easy for a donut shop to survive the pandemic, add a selection of kolaches in Texas – and that seems even more of a sure thing. However, Amina Huy, owner of House of Donuts and Kolaches and Mr. Donut & Kolaches – both in the Katy area - says the pandemic was a trying time for her two businesses.

“It was really stressful,” Huy said. “I think that was the worst time in my life.”

Nevertheless, the dessert aficionado pushed forward as best she could. Pregnant with her second child when the pandemic first started, she faced the same things most area businesses did – a 100% shutdown followed by a lackluster reopening that only brought her sales back up to 50% of what they were before the pandemic, despite offering call-in and curbside service. Even being across the street from Katy ISD’s Rylander Elementary and less than a block from Seven Lakes High School didn’t pick things up as she’d hoped, Huy said, perhaps because the schools have yet to reopen at full capacity.

Huy said she loves her work. She’s a morning person, she said, and getting up early in the morning allows her to get her workday done, close the shop and spend the afternoon taking care of her family and personal errands. Additionally, the fact that donuts and kolaches tend to put a huge smile on customers’ faces doesn’t hurt, she said.

Huy said she was able to get assistance from the CARES Act through a Paycheck Protection Program loan, but that was still stressful. The loan – which may qualify as a grant for some businesses – was initially denied and she had to reapply to get the federal aid.

“It was horrible,” Huy said. “Like, when they were passing out the PPP loans and then we didn’t get the money at first, you know, it was really stressful.”

Huy said she knows part of the problem is that her businesses don’t have drive-thru service because they’re both in the middle of their respective shopping centers. Family members that own businesses with drive-thrus are seeing better business, so she’s working to add more menu items and remind people of some classics.

Both donut shops do well with their blueberry cake donuts, Huy said, and the kolaches are larger than her competitors with some of the sausage kolaces baking out at six-to-eight inches long. Still, she’s looking at adding bubble tea items to the menu in early April and is excited about how that might draw in more customers.

She’s also considering that Tex. Gov. Greg Abbott’s order to rescind the mask mandate might get more people out to local eateries. While she and her staff will continue to wear masks and follow all Centers for Disease Control protocols, she is leaving it up to customers to decide whether to wear masks or not, though she does encourage it. She’ll also be encouraging customers to wear masks – though not requiring them.

Mostly though, she is just hoping to ensure that she and her businesses can keep going to support the local community with jobs, sports sponsorships – her donut shops support little league teams – and great desserts.

“We’re here to help as well,” Huy said. “Whatever (the community) needs from us. We’ve always supported little league, sports or whatever … we try to give back as much as we can.”