Village Express Donuts owner returns to revitalized store

Village Express Donuts customers' faces were filled with smiles and eagerness Sunday morning as they waited for the beloved owner, Beng Lee, to return to the shop for his 75th birthday.

This was the first time he’s been back to his store since being hospitalized. 

Lee was hit in the head during a robbery attempt in September, according to the Sacramento Police Department. He had to be rushed to the hospital and was diagnosed with a blood clot in his brain.

Lee arrived in the car's passenger seat, where he was met by applause and praise as he used his walker to get closer to his store. Tears ran down his face as he did so.

Last month, Tahoe Park residents rallied behind the beloved store owner to help clean and revitalize the donut store while raising $18,000 in a GoFundMe.  The money raised was used to help transform the entire shop, including painting the store, buying and replacing equipment, and purchasing new security cameras.

“He has not seen the transformation the community has volunteered and put into his shop. So this will be the first time he sees it,” Tahoe Park Neighborhood Association President Isaac Gonzales said. “We're talking about fresh paint, a new fridge, a new freezer, new menu boards, [and] new coffee equipment donated by Java City. It's just, it's a whole transformation of the shop, a whole upgrade.”

Gonzales said the community has been very supportive of the renovation. The GoFundMe has raised over $23,000 in the month since it began. 

“We put about almost $10,000 into the equipment, in the paint and whatnot in here. But a lot of the labor that's been donated,” Gonzales said. “It really made the difference that some people were willing to help for free to get this done.”

Lee was pleased to see the community come together to help each other clean and revitalize his store. He said the money means nothing; only the people coming to see each other means something.

“I'm very happy to see all the community,” Lee said. “I'm very thankful to all the people, mostly to my brother [Isaac]. Thank you to all the community and God bless you all.”

Sherry Martinez is a Del Paso Heights resident who came to renovate the donut store during the clean-up day. Martinez returned Sunday to see the end product and celebrate Lee’s birthday.

Martinez said participating in the transformation was fun, but she thinks everyone in Sacramento should help each other.

“You should be the change that you want to see and so for me, that's why I come out,” Martinez said. “I was inspired to come out from the story, but hopefully just me being out here inspires people to step out of their boundaries.”

Although Lee returned to his shop for the day, it will be a little while before he returns to work as he gets better. According to Gonzales, his family helps out with the store's operation.

Gonzales said the community showed how much they appreciate Lee and Village Express Donuts, and that’s why they could pull off what he called a “mini miracle” quickly.

“This is the heart of Tahoe Park,” Gonzales said. “It literally is right in the middle of the neighborhood. People, young and old, come here every day. Senior citizens have little groups here. They meet every morning. Kids come here to get their donut holes. It's just everyone, all ages come here and enjoy the donut shop.”