CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - Opening a business focused on bite-size doughnuts during a pandemic was no small feat for Yomaira Robles and Luis Medina.
The husband-and-wife team opened Mikey’s Mini Donuts on March 17 - in the midst of the worldwide coronavirus epidemic - at 21 N. Main St. in downtown Chambersburg.
Mikey's Mini Donuts family: Luis Medina and Yomaira Robles opened Mikey’s Mini Donuts on March 17 at 21 N. Main St. in downtown Chambersburg, Pa. Here , they stand inside the eatery with their sons, from left, Yexiel, Jayden and Sebastian.
CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - Opening a business focused on bite-size doughnuts during a pandemic was no small feat for Yomaira Robles and Luis Medina.
The husband-and-wife team opened Mikey’s Mini Donuts on March 17 - in the midst of the worldwide coronavirus epidemic - at 21 N. Main St. in downtown Chambersburg.
The cake creations are about the size of doughnut holes, but with a hole in the middle. The yeast-free, fried treats are ready in two to three minutes. They can be topped with myriad options, including chocolate, marshmallow and strawberry syrups; powdered sugar; cinnamon sugar; peanut butter and Nutella. Then there’s bacon, gummy candies, chopped nuts and cookies, M&M’s and plenty of fresh fruit.
“What you ask for, we have it here,” said Robles, 36. “The fun is to see how they’re done and the decorations.”
While measures ordered by Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf to prevent the spread of coronavirus are in place, patrons can’t watch the process up close, but once the restrictions are lifted, they can see their orders come to life while nibbling on popcorn provided in the waiting area.
Mikey’s is currently open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. Normal business hours - once the COVID-19 clampdown is over - will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday; 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Robles said the shop only does carryout service - there is no space to eat inside - and for now is taking orders solely by phone. Once coronavirus restrictions are lifted, the business will begin accepting orders online.
While the name is all about doughnuts, there is much more to Mikey’s menu. The eatery also offers waffle pops - strips of waffle dough on a skewer. The sweet treat toppings are inspired by kid-food favorites such as s’mores, breakfast cereal, birthday cake and peanut butter and jelly.
Speaking of dessert, those doughnuts can be combined with ice cream for concoctions such as “The Mikey,” which features one scoop of ice cream surrounded by five mini doughnuts and topped with nearly anything a person can imagine. There also are floats, plus 16-ounce milkshakes with flavorings or sweeteners such as butterscotch, caramel sauce, chocolate syrup and fruit syrup. There are a variety of smoothies, too, all featuring fresh fruits such as strawberries, mangoes and peaches.
Robles gets her fruit from various local stores.
“I’m picky about that,” Robles said.
Mikey's Mini Donuts counter: While the name is all about doughnuts, Mikey's Mini Donuts also offers waffle pops, ice cream, milkshakes, smoothies, and several hot and cold beverages.
If you need something to quench your thirst after noshing on all that sweet goodness, Mikey’s also sells frappes, coffees, espresso, cappuccino, hot chocolate, and sweetened and unsweetened tea.
Prices range from $3.50 for eight mini doughnuts with one topping to $6 for two waffle pops with coffee or soda for $6.
Mikey's Mini Donuts got its start across the Maryland line at Hagerstown Premium Outlets, where Michael Rosario opened it in mid-2017 with his wife and 1-year-old son. When it was time for him to step away in early 2019, he approached Robles and Medina, 39, about taking it over, knowing they had a background in the restaurant industry.
The pair, who have lived in Chambersburg for 15 years, started looking at downtown sites in August 2019.
“We could bring it into town and it would be a good thing,” Robles said.
They began converting the space from a store to a bakery/dessertery and expanded the menu to include more drinks and fruit. The opening date was set for mid-March, and as it approached, coronavirus had made its way from China to the United States.
Robles said it was a tough decision to open during such uncertain times, but it also was frustrating to think of paying rent without making any profits. She and her husband wanted to be safe, but didn’t want to risk the financial well-being of their family, which includes sons ages 16, 12 and 9.
“That was one of the things that pushed me to work harder,” Robles said. “It was a scary thing.”
They are taking all the safety precautions they can think of, including meeting customers at the door with their orders, using hand sanitizer and washing their hands constantly and cleaning the shop with bleach.
Mikey’s also is providing a treat that appears to be welcome at a time when people are worried about their health and financial security. Robles has been pleasantly surprised by regulars who make daily visits, then bring others along.
“I’m helping myself, but I’m also helping others,” Robles said. “It is a good product … and it makes them smile, too.”
The hard work that led the couple to this point has been worth it, and it’s fulfilling a lifelong goal.
“I always believed you do what you like to do,” Robles said. “This has been my dream always,” she said of owning her own business. “It’s a family thing, and that’s what I want. It’s teamwork.”
To place an order, call 717-729-6706.
For more information, go to https://www.mikeysminidonut.com (note there is no “s” on the end of “donut” in the web address) or email mikeysminidonuts@outlook.com.