Young entrepreneurs bring family recipe, pink trailer, and big ambition downtown
A bright pink food truck and the sweet smell of fried dough will soon become part of the summer panorama in downtown St. Joseph.
Starting June 13th, Zo’s Mini Donuts—a rising star in Southwest Michigan’s seasonal food scene—will be parking its trademark trailer at 508 Pleasant Street, right across from Schu’s, offering hot, fresh mini donuts daily through August 10th. But this isn’t just another summer snack stop—it’s the next chapter of a heartwarming family business that’s growing as fast as its founders can fry donuts.
A Sister Act Built on Sugar and Smarts
Zoey and Lydia Heyn are the dynamic duo behind Zo’s Mini Donuts. The business began just two years ago as a simple summer project and has already blossomed into a regional favorite. In 2023, then-14-year-old Zoey—a Bridgman High School freshman with a knack for baking—turned a home kitchen hobby into a full-fledged business. Her older sister Lydia, a recent Michigan State University marketing grad, brought the business acumen. Together, they transformed a retro Coca-Cola trailer into a donut stand, stationed near Warren Dunes State Park.
“Zoey was always baking,” Lydia recalls, “and one day we realized—people really loved her mini donuts. So we went for it. We painted the trailer bright pink and opened our first stand. We thought maybe we’d sell a few hundred. We sold over 15,000 in four weeks.”
The recipe? A secret family blend passed down through generations, perfected over time, and adapted for their specialty: mini donuts made fresh to order, served piping hot and topped with a signature cinnamon-sugar blend—or one of several rotating flavors.
A Business with Momentum
The initial success was more than beginner’s luck. After winning over beachgoers and locals in Sawyer, the sisters launched a second trailer in New Buffalo the following season. The buzz caught the attention of local business leaders—and contest judges.
Zoey and Lydia took top honors at the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber’s HYPE Pitch Competition, earning a $15,000 boost. Soon after, they won Move Women Forward’s statewide startup contest, tacking on another $10,000 in prize funding.
This spring, Zoey went international—literally. She presented the Zo’s Mini Donuts business plan at the DECA International Career Development Conference, competing against students from across the globe. She didn’t just participate—she won first place, bringing home Bridgman High School’s first-ever international DECA trophy.
Now Rolling Into St. Joseph
With momentum—and donuts—to spare, the sisters are ready for their next milestone: bringing the Zo’s experience to downtown St. Joseph for the heart of tourist season.
Their Pleasant Street location will be open daily from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM, perfect for a morning stroll or a family treat after breakfast. Then on weekends, they’ll fire up again for “Sunset Specials” from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM, giving evening beachgoers a sweet nightcap before calling it a day.
“We’re excited to open our doors and share our family’s donut tradition with even more people in the community,” Zoey says. “This business started as a dream between sisters, and it’s become a way for us to bring joy and sweetness to Southwest Michigan. We owe everything to our amazing customers, the Zo’s Mini Donuts Family, who have supported us since day one.”
Looking Ahead
While this summer marks their debut in St. Joseph, it likely won’t be their last. A third trailer is already in the works, and conversations about a permanent brick-and-mortar presence are beginning to take shape. But no matter how fast they grow, the Heyn sisters are grounded in the values that started it all: family, community, and a perfectly fried mini donut.
If you’re downtown this summer, follow the scent of sugar and cinnamon—you just might find yourself in line at a pink trailer, part of what could very well be one of Michigan’s next great small business success stories.
Zo’s Mini Donuts – Downtown St. Joseph Summer Schedule
📍 508 Pleasant St. (across from Schu’s)
🗓️ June 13 – August 10, 2025
☀️ Daily Mornings: 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM
🌅 Sunset Specials (Fri-Sun): 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
For more information, follow Zo’s Mini Donuts on social media or email zosminidonuts@gmail.com.
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