From Spice Rubs To Sprinkles
Photos by: John Burns
What does a barbecue guy know about selling donuts?
Since purchasing Paradise Donuts in March 2021, Mike Babb has used the skills he gained from 20 years of running restaurants to grow the beloved Topeka donut shop. In just over a year, Babb has increased traffic, grown sales, and opened a second location in Southwest Topeka.
Babb makes it look easy, but he’s quick to admit that his business savvy has been honed from multiple experiences in the restaurant industry. Using failures, trials and triumphs as his teachers, Babb has continued to get back in the business game, making each of his ventures more successful than the last—and he’d love nothing more than for others to learn from his journey.
WHEN A HOBBY BECOMES A HUSTLE
Back in the late 1990s, Babb and his brothers shared a passion for smoking meats. Babb did catering on the side for years until one rave review changed his life. After coming back three times in one afternoon for ribs, one customer became an investor who helped Babb turn his hobby into a business.
Babb Brothers BBQ opened in Topeka in 1999. While the restaurant was always busy, Babb wasn’t making money.
“I knew I could cook, but I didn’t know a damn thing about business,” Babb said. “There’s more to having a great restaurant than having the best product.”
After a year and a half, Babb closed the business.
Years later, Babb was living in Dallas, Texas, and was working as an athletic director and basketball coach. But the kitchen still called to Babb, and he continued to cater for friends on the side. Once again, Babb’s food earned rave reviews, and a friend encouraged him to take another turn at running a business. Babb opened Babb Brothers BBQ, thanks to a group of Dallas entrepreneurs looking to invest in aspiring restaurant owners. But this time, he did things differently.
While the quality of his food spoke for itself, Babb knew he needed something special to draw in customers. So, he took his barbecue concept and added a blues club.
“There’s barbecue on every street corner in Texas,” said Babb. “I learned you have to figure out how you’re going to stand out.”
Dedicated to giving customers what they wanted, Babb was constantly in the restaurant.
Noticing people brought their kids, he scheduled live blues shows earlier in the evening, so even families could have a night out.
Babb ran the restaurant for six years until he got a call from a friend in Topeka who offered him an opportunity to help be a part of the downtown revitalization. Excited to be part of it, he packed up to seize the opportunity.
DOWN-HOME COOKING BACK HOME
After working for other friends’ projects in Topeka, Babb soon got the opportunity to start his own venture once again in the space previously occupied by Next Gen Chophouse in Maple Hill.
While he knew barbecue would be part of his concept, Babb wanted to find out exactly what the community wanted. So, he went around and asked them.
“We as entrepreneurs can have our own ideas about what we think is going to work,” Babb said. “But until you talk to people, you don’t know what will get them to come out.”
Learning that residents were craving a local hangout, Babb opened Flint Hills Smokehouse, a casual restaurant that served up down-home cooking and plenty of light beer.
The timing wasn’t just ripe for casual dining. Opening amid the national riots and protests that followed the death of George Floyd, Babb knew that as one of the few African Americans in the area, he had an opportunity to use Flint Hills Smokehouse as a platform.
“Through my restaurant, the community could see another side of the racial tensions,” said Babb. “They saw me as someone who lives in the community who was bringing something different—and they accepted that.”
While Flint Hills Smokehouse became a social meeting place, Babb still wasn’t making enough to earn a living. So, when Babb’s friend, the former owner of Paradise Donuts, tried to convince him to take over the business, Babb was intrigued. After researching donuts and learning how to make them, Babb decided to purchase the business.
AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SOME DOUGH
At first, Babb ran both businesses. But keeping up two places that operate at opposite hours meant sleep became a leisure activity for Babb. He would go make donuts at 10 o’clock each night, then help behind the counter when doors opened at 6 in the morning. Then, a few hours later, he’d head back to Maple Hill to work in the restaurant.
After a month, Babb had enough. To be the hands-on owner he wanted to be, he had to choose where to put his focus. Seeing potential in Paradise Donuts, he closed Flint Hill Smokehouse.
“I needed to do something for my own wellbeing and take an opportunity to make money,” said Babb. “Paradise Donuts is the first time in any of these concepts I’ve ever done something for myself.”
Since purchasing the shop, Babb has fallen in love with the art of making donuts.
“It’s way out of my comfort zone, but I truly enjoy being here at night and seeing people happy the next morning,” said Babb. “When people come into a donut shop, most of the time they’re happy.”
In just over a year of taking over the business, Babb has seen traffic increase along with sales.
“There’s an excitement about Paradise Donuts,” Babb said. “People want to support the local guy.”
SUCCESS THAT GIVES BACK
After learning from investors and partners for over two decades, Babb wants to help other aspiring entrepreneurs follow their dreams.
“I’ve been given great opportunities,” said Babb. “I want to help someone who wants to be an entrepreneur by showing them the good parts and the bad parts.”
Babb also feels a responsibility to support other local businesses in Topeka.
“I wish more entrepreneurs would know that it’s OK to support the next guy, even if he’s doing the same thing you are,” Babb said. “It’s better for everybody.”
So, is Babb done with barbecue? Maybe not.
The new Paradise Donuts location happens to have a kitchen, and Babb has thought about serving barbecue lunch. After all, the call of an entrepreneur never dies.
