By CHRISTIE NORTHRUP
The Progress
Imagine taking a family tradition that you love and turning that memory into a thriving business.
What would that business be?
For Paige and Casey Anderson, that business became Mesquite’s popular Hole Foods Bakery.
The Virgin Valley High School sweethearts had their own careers working for the schools and in accounting for a golf course. More than two years ago, as parents of five children, they realized they wanted to expand their relationship beyond the family and become business partners. They knew a family business would teach their children responsibilities and other life lessons they would not learn in a formal setting.
They pondered about what kind of business would fill a void in Mesquite…what niche was missing in town?
They brainstormed and had several ideas. Then Paige remembered how she had grown up making donuts under the tutelage of her grandma. Donuts were a tradition for family events—especially at Christmastime.
With the type of business decided, the next step was coming up with a unique, memorable name. Again, a brainstorming session ensued. The idea based on a doughnut hole evolved into the name “Hole Foods Bakery.”
Now the couple needed to find the perfect location. As wise entrepreneurs, they didn’t want to over extend themselves and had an idea of the size of the building that would work for them. When they discovered the vacant space at 12 West Mesquite Boulevard #114, which had been vacant for a very long time, they thought it might be too large for a startup.
Yet, they felt this was the perfect location—especially with the large, welcoming windows that floods the bakery, customer seating area, and beverage bar with sunlight.
The location had previously housed an office, so it had to be built out for a bakery.
While the building was being prepared, the doughnut recipe had to be tested and perfected. Many recipes were tried, but none stood the taste test like the very recipe her grandma used to teach Paige the art of making doughnuts.
This endeavor began in February 2019. On July 23, 2019, just two years ago this week, the bakery was open without fanfare. They wanted to be sure processes, products, and people were in place before announcing the opening. Very soon, the word spread and the bakery became part of the over 10 billion doughnuts eaten in the United States every year.
How does a busy couple manage a business along with their family, church, and civic responsibilities? Teamwork! While they both have their own business expertise, Paige is quick to give Casey the credit for helping the kids with homework, getting them to all their activities, and home-schooling during the recent pandemic.
But the one thing they both do every work day is to arrive at the bakery at 3 am to start preparing the donuts and many other delicacies for their morning customers.
The two oldest children are already helping out at the bakery, and the others look forward to when they are twelve years old and can work in the successful family business. Additionally, the bakery employs ten more people. Paige states that it is nice to live in a small town where you often know a person well before hiring him/her.
While doughnuts are the core product, other varieties such as filled, bars, and other shapes are also offered in the glass bakery case.
Hold Foods is also known for their amazing cinnamon rolls, a recipe handed down from Paige’s mother. Cookies, cupcakes, and made-to-order cakes and pies are also on the menu. During the summer, salads and sandwiches are available for lunch, and soups in bread bowls are on the menu in the fall and winter.
While Paige’s grandma is quietly proud of the bakery’s thriving growth, her grandpa is perhaps the biggest fan of all. In the beginning, he visited the bakery every single day. Now Paige personally delivers the treats to him.
Family traditions are meaningful because they are memorable. In the case of the Andersons, traditions have become profitable in many ways as well.
Hole Foods is open Monday through Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.; Saturday 6:00 a.m. to 12 noon.
