by John Lacko

About ten years ago, I met a Miami cop who wanted to open a doughnut shop. This week that sweet dream comes true…

Turns out his extended family once operated a beloved South Florida bakery; a popular spot that got its start back in 1947. They handcrafted those pillowy soft, glazed doughnuts everybody raves about. The place was called Velvet Creme Doughnuts.

The long road back to a brick and mortar store included a few false starts and a bunch of test runs at free-standing kiosks and popular Miami food trucks – each of which I helped to design – but this week, the official Velvet Creme Doughnut Shop will relaunch in the heart of Little Havana at 1555 SW Eighth Street, next door to the historic Ball & Chain Lounge. Every time I mentioned that I was working to bring back the brand, friends would get all misty-eyed and start telling stories about doughnut-filled family breakfasts or endless nights studying for exams at University of Miami, fueled by boxes of doughnuts and bottomless cups of coffee.

My background in visual design & merchandising dates back to Burdines “Sunshine Fashions,” another beloved South Florida institution that faded into memory in 2005 when many regional big box stores were absorbed into the Macy’s brand. I got my start on the selling floor building store displays and wound up as an executive-level visual presentation designer crafting the interiors of specialty departments working on a computer. Partnering with two devoted South Florida families who have put their heart and soul into the resurrection of Velvet Creme is a far more personal task, and so I’ve found myself back on a ladder helping to place the dynamic graphics I designed that honor the history of the company and move the brand forward for the next generation.

My background in visual design & merchandising dates back to Burdines “Sunshine Fashions,” another beloved South Florida institution that faded into memory in 2005 when many regional big box stores were absorbed into the Macy’s brand. I got my start on the selling floor building store displays and wound up as an executive-level visual presentation designer crafting the interiors of specialty departments working on a computer. Partnering with two devoted South Florida families who have put their heart and soul into the resurrection of Velvet Creme is a far more personal task, and so I’ve found myself back on a ladder helping to place the dynamic graphics I designed that honor the history of the company and move the brand forward for the next generation.

To see more of John Lacko’s work, please visit his website and Altpick page.