Here's the sign to Scotty's Donuts and Teriyaki Chicken, a restaurant that has the popular theme of selling donuts and teriyaki chicken bowls in the same location. You know, it's so you can get your donut with your teriyaki chicken. What, you don't do that?
This location was once a Burger King and then became a family-owned donut shop after an economic downturn and rise in crime in the area chased many of the chain businesses out of the area. Today, a homeless shelter is located directly behind the donut shop. The area is well-known for its drug and gang-related crime.
3 comments:
The whole donut business in California is fascinating to me. I'm not sure how or when non-Krispy Kreme donuts became an Asian enterprise in the state, but the people who run most independent donut shops in California tend to be Asian, usually Cambodian.
In my town, we have one in a mostly Hispanic area that sells chow mein and doughnuts right next to each other. Both are fine separately, but the intermingling of Chinese cooking oil and doughnut grease is a little strange.
It reminds me of my growing up with family Thanksgiving celebrations that included both mashed potatoes and steamed rice. My grandmother understood that mashed potatoes were part of Thanksgiving, but she couldn't conceive of any big meal that didn't include rice.
ONe of the oddities of the whole doughnut thing is that most doughnuts are way too sweet for the traditional Asian palate. It could just as easily have been laundries, manicure salons, or corner groceries. I also suspect that the hours of the doughnut shop fit family-oriented cultures well. You wake up early in the morning to do the baking, sell out your inventory by mid-afternoon, and are home either in time for the kids to come home from school or you're able to work a second job.
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I have a funny story you might like.
In Manhattan, there are quite a few Mexican food restaurants that are owned and operated by Asians.
So, I go in, order my food, and sit and wait for it.
A younger woman walks in, and asks if they have any "vegetarian tacos" ("Hey, lady, it's Item #1" I should have said.
The asian woman behind the counter doesn't seem to understand, so repeats back, in her thick accent, "vegetarian?"
And the young woman says "No carne, No pollo"
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