We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Emily Thompson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Emily below.

Hi Emily, thanks for joining us today. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.

One of our business biggest risk taken was our move out of the city and into the county. After 10 years in different parts of Baltimore City we had to make a choice on where to move to next. After some research into where all our customers were coming from with billing zip codes it was crazy how many people traveled to us from the county. I’d say easily 75-80% of our customers were coming at least 15mins or more highway time to see us. We found the most accessible spot for 95, 695 and 83 in Overlea! After a full build out to make the kitchen space we needed, we opened in of February of 2023. We have been in our newest location for a little over a year and half and couldn’t be happier!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Diablo doughnuts was created by Michael Roslan in 2013 after a career changing motorcycle accident. He was in the tattoo and piercing industry for 15 plus years before the accident caused him to no longer be able to draw a straight line. With help from friends and his grandmother’s polish yeast doughnut recipe he started playing around with different off the wall flavors to see how far the envelope could be pushed. Doing things like creative combos and goofy names made the doughnuts catch on quite quickly at markets. After getting the ground work for the doughnuts down it was about where to sell them. After a short run in a group bakery in Towson we settled in a shared kitchen in Fells point. After a few years there we moved to our own location in Federal Hill until COVID hit. We had to move in an emergency situation to a community style kitchen again in Brooklyn for 2 years. That’s when we finally found our home in Overlea. Over the years the menu has grown with mass popularity on classic flavors and the outrageous ones too. Anything from a panty dropper with maple and bacon to a fruity cereal covered unicorn farts, we got a flavor for you.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

We love sharing our love story! I applied to work at Diablo in early 2018 after I finished culinary and pastry school to work at the Federal Hill location. After a year of working together it became a no brainer that we were meant to be together. We are now married and have a beautiful son together.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Putting everything on the line. Everything goes to the business. Time, money, drive, blood, sweat and tears. No one is going to do it for you so you have to. Make sure everyone knows who you are and be 100% you.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://diablodoughnuts.square.site/
• Instagram: diablo_doughnuts
• Facebook: Diablo Doughnuts
• Yelp: Diablo Doughnuts