In the seven years Irie Cao has operated her Japanese-inspired dessert shop, Doki Doki, she had never seen a line so long.
Just before noon Saturday, a “nonstop” line of customers stretched blocks down 400 South in Salt Lake City. The influx of customers started on Thursday, with swarms of Utahns arriving at the dessert shop to get their fill of fluffy pancakes and fish-shaped Taiyaki treats. Even so, Cao said she “never imagined” what Saturday’s numbers would bring.
“The line just kept going and going and going,” said Cao, owner and chef of Doki Doki.
Doki Doki, at 249 E. 400 South in downtown Salt Lake City, experienced a surge of clients after a Salt Lake Tribune article that detailed the shop’s financial struggles, including a monthslong decrease in sales and rising supply costs. Last summer, the small business made around 40% less of what they typically made, Cao said.
By 3 p.m. Saturday, Doki Doki had sold out of its delicate crepe cake, creamy panna cotta and flaky pastries. Luckily, Cao said, a shipment of eggs had just arrived that morning – and a stock that was meant for the entire week was mostly gone by closing time.
“Utah really loves the local businesses,” said Cao. “Sometimes, they just need a reminder … someone to tell them what’s going on behind the scenes.”
On Instagram, Cao shared her thanks to her clients for “saving her dream,” her social reel capturing a timelapse view of Doki Doki’s occupied front parlor Saturday. “Your love and support have touched us deeply,” Cao said in the Instagram video. “It brought happy tears to my team and me.”
Since the article was posted, Doki Doki’s Instagram has grown by more than 1,000 followers, Cao said, with DMs from Utah and across the United States pledging support.
But Cao’s business isn’t the only one in need of “extra love,” she said. In her post, Cao shared the names of other local restaurants and sweet shops “struggling” with low sales. Some, Cao shared, have already closed; others are at risk.
“My list is not comprehensive,” Cao said. “There are way more restaurants that need help.”
(Chris Samuels | The Salt Lake Tribune) Irie Cao, owner of Doki Doki, a Japanese-influenced dessert shop in downtown Salt Lake City.
The Taiwanese boba tea house Ding Tea, at 5624 S. Redwood Road in Taylorsville, is one of the businesses Cao mentioned in her post. Owner Ban Tran said he has experienced a decline in sales, down as much as 30%, since September. It is a trend, he said, happening at other restaurants, with only a few doing well.
“We don’t know what’s [going to] happen next,” said Tran, who said he hopes for a “better outcome” during the summer. “So we’re just hanging in there.”
Other shops mentioned in Cao’s post are:
• Chubby Baker, donut shop, locations in Salt Lake City, Sandy and Orem.
• Siam Orchid, Thai restaurant, 4410 S. 900 East, Salt Lake City.
• 9-Up Night Market, Asian street food, 3390 S. State St., South Salt Lake.
• Oh Mai Vietnamese Kitchen, locations in Salt Lake City, Holladay, Draper, South Jordan, South Salt Lake, Taylorsville and Millcreek.
• Sunny Honey, boba tea shop, 535 N. 300 West, Salt Lake City.
• Keyaki Sushi, Asian fusion and sushi, 777 E. Fort Union Blvd., Midvale.
• Yummy’s Korean BBQ, locations in Orem, West Valley City, St. George and Roosevelt.
• Cloud Ninth Creamery, 928 E. 900 South, Salt Lake City. (Seasonal.)
• Wildside Dog Gear, online pet supplies shop based in Salt Lake City.
• Picnic, sandwiches and coffee shop, 1329 S. 500 East, Salt Lake City.
• Ambrosial Bakery, gluten-free bakery, 275 E. 300 South, Provo.
Seeing the last few days’ success, Cao said, has felt like the “hard work was worth it.”
“When you have a product that you don’t sell, you second-guess yourself,” said Cao, who toyed with the idea of shutting Doki Doki down in early February. “But when it’s sold out like that, it’s almost like a compliment.”
“It’s reassuring,” she added. “Like, ‘Hey, you’re doing the right thing.’”
