OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA — Colonial Donuts, a renowned 24-hour East Bay donut shop, experienced a daring armed robbery recently. In the early hours of Friday, three individuals wielding firearms entered the shop. They threatened the cashier and then invaded the backroom, forcing three bakers to keep low while they searched fruitlessly for a safe. The assailants then returned to the shop front to rob the cash register.
Phing Yamamoto, the shop manager, shared that the business has been under her family’s ownership for about 40 years. Leaving her job at Apple to continue her parents’ “American Dream,” Yamamoto hopes the troubling incident can prompt positive changes in the community. Her family’s enterprise has weathered Loma Prieta, a recession, and a pandemic.
In her address at the forthcoming Lakeshore Merchants Association meeting on June 27, Yamamoto plans to highlight the struggles of small businesses like Colonial Donuts, appealing for community support. She expressed feelings of defeat and the urgent need for change, emphasizing the importance of small businesses to Oakland’s identity.
Despite the distressing incident, Colonial Donuts continued operations on Friday. The business hopes it won’t have to cut back on its hours due to rising crime. As of now, no arrests have been made related to the robbery, and the Oakland Police have requested anyone with additional information to assist in the investigation.
