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SBDC Hall of Fame

Toni Plaskon

Toni Plaskon

Toni Plaskon
Donut Connection
Jamestown SBDC

Toni is a practical businesswoman whose success comes from her outgoing approach to business. She always has a smile on her face and readily gives out hugs.  She easily develops good relationships with both customers and other business associates.  Toni owns a donut-coffee shop-luncheonette and a bar-restaurant that have become popular gathering places for the community.

Toni has worked with the SBDC for more than ten years on several projects.  She first visited the SBDC in 1992 for assistance in converting a Mr. Donut shop to a business called Donut Connection.  Toni returned to the SBDC in 1997 to purchase the building in which her bar was located. In 1998, she asked the SBDC for help in financing renovations to the donut shop.

In 2001, Toni needed assistance to relocate the Donut Connection when city of Jamestown seized the land under the building to build an ice arena.  The complication was that she was leasing the space for the business, did not own the building, and therefore did not receive compensation from the city.  SBDC Business Adviser Bill Everts worked with Toni to resolve various issues. She purchased and then moved into a nearby plaza and was able to subsequently lease the other storefronts.   Because she included a separate smoking room at her new location, the Donut Connection received the first temporary smoking waiver from the Chautauqua County Board of Health.  In 2003, Toni returned to the SBDC for assistance in purchasing a building containing a laundromat, stores, and apartments.  Recently, she opened another Donut Connection location at the Food Court in the Chautauqua Mall.

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