What did Trish do before opening her mini donut shop? She used to travel around North America with her family, who owned a carnival business! Trish grew up on the fairgrounds, went to carnival school and spent most of the year on the road. She described growing up on the road as “surreal and unbelievable.” While in college, Trish continued to help her family during the summer by driving amusement-ride big rigs, riding in her family’s own private railway car and working in games and carnival food stands. After her father gave her brother the carnival business, Trish was free to create her own destiny. She took her mini donut recipe and hit the road to San Francisco. She opened on The PIER in 1994 and said, “Opening at The PIER was amazing and the best thing to ever happen to me.” Trish’s Mini Donuts is recognized by locals, travelers and routinely shows up on “Best Donut Shops” in San Francisco.