For 28 years Seal Beachers have been buying doughnuts from John and Stella Chan, the proprietors of Donut City on PCH. Lately they’ve been buying more than usual — lots more than usual — all to help owner John spend more time with his ailing wife his wife had suffered a debilitating aneurysm.
The Chhans, Cambodian refugees, have owned Donut City since 1989, arriving at work before sunrise and rarely taking a day off. Every day they stay as long as it takes them to sell out the doughnuts, muffins and cinnamon rolls they made that morning.
A few weeks ago, customers starting noticing Stella’s absence. John explained that she was in the hospital and he would go visit her after work. That got Dawn Caviola thinking, if enough people would buy a dozen doughnuts every morning, he could close early and go be with his wife.” So she floated her idea on the NextDoor app last week and the response was immediate. Ever since, Chhan has sold out by noon – some three hours earlier than usual – freeing him to visit his wife at the rehabilitation facility. “We are so thankful,” said Chhan, 62, holding both hands over his heart.
The Orange County Register has the full story and lots of good photos. Fox-11 also has a story.
