By Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor
Editor’s note: They Built It is an occasional series featuring Plant City’s small-business owners.
Even when a hurricane threatens to tear through town, customers still pour into Hole in One Donuts to get a taste of its circular treats.
Carole Sandstrom walks in from the storm, hungry for her breakfast treat. A short, fashionable woman in a black hat immediately greets her.
“Hi Carole, you want your usual?” owner Lisa Kim asks.
Sandstrom gets two sour cream donuts and a coffee.
“They cook it like my mother cooked it,” Sandstrom says. “That’s why I come here. They do it right.”
Lisa and her husband, Rom, took over Hole in One Donuts from the previous owners in 2010. Since then, the Kims have brought their three children, Salina, 20, Rickey, 19, and Molly, 14, in to help run the shop on weekends.
“That’s like our bonding experience,” Rickey says. “It’s our time to catch up and be together.”
The Kims are a tight-knit group and enjoy their time spent together at the shop, which they consider a second home. On any early morning, you can find Rom in the back making the dough, while Lisa fries it. Sisters Selina and Molly frost and sprinkle the donuts in a rainbow of colors. Rickey is busy chatting up customers in front.
“That’s the good thing about working here,” Rickey says. “We all help each other out. Some people get annoyed working with their family, but I don’t. It’s a family thing.”
When Rickey’s not studying mass communications and public relations at Hillsborough Community College, he is feeding hungry customers. His favorite job is being in the front of the store, working face-to-face with patrons.
“I like helping customers, getting to know them, remember daily customers orders, calling them by name,” Rickey says. “I think it’s our personalities that make us unique and the fact that we get to know our customers.”
Customers take notice of the Kims’ customer service.
“They are the nicest people,” Lou Herbert says while snacking on an apple crisp donut. “They’re like family. I tell everyone to come here.”
Their customers range from repeat patrons who come in every morning to newcomers and even a 4-year-old cheerleader, who recently performed a cheer for Lisa.
“Of course, I love seeing my repeat customers everyday, but I like seeing new people come in, too,” Rickey says.
Rom and Lisa are both from Cambodia, but they met in the United States. Lisa lived as a refugee from war in Thailand until she was 13 years old. Her family obtained a sponsor and was able to move in 1985, to the U.S.
“It’s a sad story,” Lisa says. “I don’t like to talk about it. I’ve never lived in my home country.”
Rom moved in 1984, to the U.S. The couple met in Massachusetts, where they both have family. Lisa hated the snow and traffic of Boston. During a vacation to St. Petersburg, the family decided to move to Tampa. They found quiet Plant City nestled outside of town, fell in love with it and have been here for 11 years.
Rom and Lisa always wanted to own their own business. When the previous owners moved to Texas, the Kims jumped at the opportunity to carry on this tasty tradition. They trained for weeks prior to taking over the shop, learning how to make the dough and fry it.
“It’s not hard, but you have to wake up early in the morning,” Rom says. “Sometimes 2 a.m., 1 a.m., on weekends.”
They have kept many of the same items on the menu, but have added their own, such as a giant frosted and sprinkled donut that can be customized with writing for a birthday treat.
Sandstrom gets up from her seat to leave after socializing and munching for a half-hour.
“Bye, Carole,” Lisa says. “Be safe in the storm.”
Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.
Hole in One Donuts
1707 E. James L. Redman Parkway Plant City, FL
5 a.m to 1 p.m.
813-719-6616
Staff Picks
Rom: Everything, chocolate donut
Lisa: Maple donut
Selina: Bacon and cheese croissant
Rickey: Strawberry donut holes
Molly: Plain cake