According to a recent article from Block Club Chicago, Somethin’ Sweet Donuts aims to open a second location at 3244 W Montrose Avenue.
“The goal is to open by the summer. May ideally, and June at the latest. We are really excited for the expanded dining space that will be available to customers. Whether you visit by yourself, with a friend, or as a group, we can accommodate your every need! Additionally, we are looking to expand our drink menu and offer hot food items,” Co-Owner Andrew Chao told What Now Chicago.
“We are one of the city’s only peanut and tree nut allergen friendly donut shops. We make an intentional decision to be inclusive of people’s food allergies. My dad has over 40 years of baking experience, getting his start in California at his own uncle’s donut shop. In every description of the word, he is a master of his craft.”
“All of our products are made by hand and are made solely through the efforts of just my parents (with my aunt on the weekends). We care deeply about our products and pride ourselves on our customer service because this is our livelihood. We are not a faceless national corporation, and in all things we do, we aim to give back to the communities we serve.”
“When it comes to “California-style,” my Dad immigrated to the United States in 1981, he came to California and worked at his uncle’s donut shop. So at its most basic definition, it refers to the physical aesthetics of our donuts. But beyond that, it encapsulates the culture of California donut shops that are prevalent in that state.”
“Typically, donut shops out there are Cambodian-owned and these businesses were usually started by Cambodian immigrants who used it as a way to make a living. The donuts that you would typically find are more blue-collar, no nonsense donuts. Donuts of exceptional quality, but without the frills of a more gourmet or boutique pastry shop and their increased price tag.”
“So in that sense, we pride ourselves on providing quality donuts at an affordable price. We innovate when we can, for example, tapping into our culture for things like Lunar New Year by creating red bean donuts and using even more out-there ingredients like a pork floss donut—incorporating the pork floss ingredient usually found in Cantonese congee dishes.”
“Another example would be our homemade matcha and ube donuts. But aside from these more innovative options, at our core, we offer the classics that people grew up with: apple fritters, old fashioned donuts, cinnamon rolls, etc. We make a point to provide donuts that even your own parents or grandparents would recognize.”
“Looking further into the future, my goal is to grow into a business that never forgets its roots, staying true to our mission statement to serve our communities ethically while becoming a neighborhood institution that residents, businesses, and organizations can turn to for collaborations and mutual aid.”
