This popular Broward shop is moving into all the former Mojo Donuts locations in Miami

When fans learned Mojo Donuts was closing all three of its Miami-Dade locations after eight delightful, sugar-filled years, they mourned.

Now, Hollywood Donut Factory from Broward is filling the void, taking over all three locations and offering the best of both worlds: some of the original fan favorites and the old-fashioned, delicious Hollywood doughnuts so big they require the largest box manufacturers can make.

Owned and operated by brother and sister team Bobby and Kat Palushaj, Hollywood Donut Company has moved into the former Mojo locations on Bird Road, in Coral Gables across U.S. 1 from the University of Miami and in Kendall’s El Car Wash. Hollywood Donut Factory has two Broward locations, one on Hollywood Boulevard and another on Las Olas in Fort Lauderdale, and provides doughnuts to brands like Circle K and local hotels.

The Palushajs, who have been in the doughnut business for six years, will be crossing the county line to work with Jimmy Piedrahita, who originally brought Mojo to Miami in 2016 (the first Mojo Donuts in Pembroke Pines remains open and a separate entity).

The affable Piedrahita, who refers to himself as “Chief Donut Officer” in the new world order, is a crucial element in the process, according to Bobby Palushaj. The two sides came together through a friend, and both welcomed the idea of working together.

“I learned a long time ago: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” says Palushaj, who got his start in the restaurant industry more than 30 years ago with a café in New York. “What Jimmy did is nothing short of spectacular. Look at the comments on the announcement of the closings. The community was heartbroken. We had to keep him involved with Hollywood Donut Factory.”

Piedrahita’s role is somewhat undefined — he’s a blend of cheerleader, marketer and community liaison, among other things — but he couldn’t be more excited about the project.

“They’re hellbent on succeeding in this market,” Piedrahita says. “Their motto is bigger, better, fresher, and their doughnuts are massive. Put it next to a traditional doughnut from Dunkin or Krispy Kreme, and it towers over those doughnuts.”

In addition to serving Piedrahita creations like the flan and the rice pudding doughnuts, the new Hollywood Donut Factories will expand their menu to include muffins, croissants, bagels and breakfast sandwiches, something the previous stores lacked.

The price point at Hollywood Donut Factory will be around $39 for a dozen (The Salty, for example, charges around $55).

Kat Palushaj, who left a position at JP Morgan in New York to work with her brother because she wanted to move to South Florida, said that for her the most important part is getting to know the new neighborhoods and befriending customers the way she has at the Hollywood restaurant.

In Hollywood, she’ll sit down at tables with regulars and chat. She expects to rotate through the Miami stores, too, although you’ll be able to find her in Broward on the weekends.

“Customers who come in every day get worried when they don’t see me,” she says, laughing. “They’re like, ‘Are you OK?’ That’s what I love most. The best part of my day is when I can connect with customers.”

She’s also the official taster of the brand. “Nothing gets on the shelf unless I taste it,” she says, joking that the downside of her job is “having to buy different sized jeans.”

The most popular flavors in Broward are the simple glazed, Boston cream and sour cream (which comes in plain, blueberry and salted caramel). But there are also other wondrous flavors, including an Oreo-encrusted glazed doughnut that could change your life; dulce de leche; and guava and cheese. There’s even a mango doughnut stuffed with actual mangoes that seems destined to be a hit in Miami.

For Bobby Palushaj, the most important element of the new endeavor is letting customers know this is a family-owned business. He wants Hollywood Donut Factory to be part of the Miami community and hopes to find local organizations that will take leftover doughnuts at the end of the day and distribute them to homeless groups, a process he has set up in Broward.

“Miami is bigger and busier than Hollywood, but we want to get to know people by name,” he says. “Miami is the mecca of America right now. It’s literally a dream come true to provide a product and service to this community.”

Hollywood Donut Factory

Coral Gables: 6601 SW 57th Ave.

Kendall: El Car Wash, 12970 SW 152 St.

Miami: 8870 Bird Rd.

Hollywood: 102 N. 28th Ave.

Fort Lauderdale: 610 E Las Olas Blvd.

More information: www.thehollywooddonutfactory.com