Grateful for her customers, Dimples Donuts owner works hard to stay open

The things that keep many small business owners up all night these days are not the same things that keep Dimples Donuts owner Sovannary Vong up. She starts her day at midnight in order to make the doughnuts her customers crave.

For the past 13 years, she has run the Batavia doughnut shop that was started 33 years ago by her aunt, Linda Vong.

With only one other employee, there have been no reductions in staff, but business is down 50%.

"We worry about not being able to pay rent," she said.

Like many other small business owners, Vong has applied for assistance through the federal stimulus package, but she hasn't heard anything.

Vong asks her customers to post on social media that the shop is still open.

"When people find out we are still open, they are very happy. When they are happy, we are happy," Vong said with a smile.

Vong came from Cambodia in 2003 when she was 17. "The United States gives you a great opportunity to work," she said. "People are very nice and treat me the same as others."

Her smile beams, even through her face mask, as her customers walk in for their doughnuts. Her parting words to every customer: "Thank you and God bless you."

• Do you know of a suburban small business with a compelling story to tell about working through the pandemic? Send me a detailed email with LIFE'S WORK in the subject line at jknox@dailyherald.com, and we'll consider it.