Located on North Ashwood Avenue, in the strip mall, rests Lil’ Sammie’s Mini Donuts, the “Grand Opening” sign still fresh from the past year. A large handpainted astronaut takes its place on the window, and the smell of coffee and donuts greets you as you walk in through the door.
The astronaut logo is a prominent feature of Lil’ Sammies, with posters hanging all around the shop declaring the donuts “out of this world.” A large fish tank stands in the corner, with its regal inhabitants darting in and out of the various attractions their home has to offer.
Front and center of the shop is the epitome of Lil’ Sammie’s: the donut grill.
Lil’ Sammie’s goes for a more traditional approach towards grilling donuts, where you can actually watch the donuts you will put in your mouth moments later be made in front of your very eyes.
“The number one thing you’re always hearing [when you go] to a donut store is somebody [asking], ‘which ones are the freshest?’ ‘Which ones are the hottest?’” owner and founder Bobby Meyer said. “I never have to say which ones because [the customers] get to see them made right in front of them.”
Lil’ Sammie’s, which is named after Meyer’s three-year-old son, started off as a far-fetched dream but quickly became a reality.
After being inspired by the Ventura County Fair, where Meyer spent his summers growing up, he spent the last few years slowly building his business. Although there were some setbacks along the way, Lil’ Sammie’s is now open for business as a cultural part of Ventura.
“Every morning I get to wake up and have a remembrance of what I used to do, which is go down to the fair. Enjoy donuts, go to the pig races, come back [and] grab more donuts,” Meyer said. “I just had a dream.”
The donuts made at Lil’ Sammie’s are miniature ones, with the majority of them being no bigger than the size of a 50 cent piece.
The minis also taste considerably different than your average full-sized donut. With a lighter, crispier taste, they leave you wanting more and aren’t as filling as the traditional treat.
I got the options that were recommended to me by Meyer – the black cheese variety, which came with caramel, crushed oreos and powdered sugar. No actual cheese is involved. These were the best ones, in my opinion. The crushed oreos added everything to the taste of the donut, and the powdered sugar was the cherry on top for the delicious bite.
My second item that I ordered was the plain donut with crushed M&Ms. Although not as appealing to me as the black cheese one, they still tasted amazing. With each bite you take, tiny bits of chocolate melt in your mouth, giving you a taste of the effort and love that is poured into the donuts every day.
There are many other options to order from but fear not! The large menu is hanging on the wall next to the order desk. With clear, neat handwriting and bright colors, the menu is sure to catch your eye and entice you to buy one of their tasty treats.
Scattered throughout the shop are posters, figurines and memorabilia gifted to the shop by valued customers. From a friend’s young daughter’s drawing to a statue of Lil’ Sammie’s mascot, the shop has certainly built a community that is all its own.
“I’ve had moms come in once their kids have gotten jobs in other states and they’re like, ‘man, this brings me back to when I took my son 20 years ago to the end of the fair,’” Meyer said. “That’s what this is here [for.] This also used to be a flower shop and I’ve had all three of the families come in here and they [all] hold a special place for this shop now, even though it’s donuts, they come in here and still feel the presence of the flower shop that they grew up in.”
As you exit Lil’ Sammie’s, the aroma of freshly fried donuts and coffee follows you out the door. Meyer wishes every one of his customers a good day and watches them leave with a smile on their face. You can rest assured that your experience will leave you with that smile for the rest of the day as the memory of the donuts lingers fresh in your mind.
