Marc Sterling, left, eyes the selections before giving his order to Lisa Taylor, center, and Chy Khoun.

Breakfast in Athens just became tastier with the opening of K-May Donuts on U.S. 72, the third store making the sinfully sweet treats of couple Chy and Chindy Khoun (pronounced ‘khan’).

Customers are greeted by Chindy and Lisa Taylor. The two women behind the counter are quick to fill orders, stacking fresh bear claws, biscuits and old-fashioned glazed doughnuts inside boxes and handing them over to patrons.

Behind the scenes is Chy Khoun, a General Motors employee turned baker. Chy has been making the holey pastries for 25 years and said he can’t imagine doing anything else. “I went to college for 2 year(s) — I like this better,” he said.

Doughnuts aren’t the only item on the menu; customers, who arrive when the store opens at 4:30 a.m., can purchase a full breakfast. In addition to the usual treats, the shop offers something most would refer to as a ‘pig in a blanket’, but the Khouns call ‘kolache’, dough mixed with chopped jalapeños and cheese, wrapped around a sausage and fried.

It isn’t hard to understand why the phones at K-May Donuts are constantly ringing and the doors are closed for only a few minutes before the next customer walks in — while pastries are sold at various area locations, K-May is the only doughnut-based shop in town.

But, competition isn’t a huge concern. “We’ve had people that tell us that they will probably never go back to Krispy Kreme,” said Lisa Taylor. “It’s out of control how much people talk about K-May.”

Customer Marc Sterling was quick to back Taylor up. “Let me tell ‘ya, they have fantastic doughnuts,” he said.

This success is well enjoyed by Chy Khoun who said Alabama is most likely the last leg of one long journey.

Khoun and his wife traveled from Cambodia to Canada, where Chy went to college and worked at a GM tool room for six years, then to California, where he learned to make doughnuts. Afterwards, the Khouns continued traveling east over the years through Arizona, Arkansas, Mississippi, and finally Alabama.

“I’m not going to move anymore, I think. I’m happy,” Chy said.

As for the future Chy said he sees nothing but doughnuts, “… That’s what I know, just doughnuts.”

The Athens location is the newest of three K-May shops, named K-May in homage to the traditional name for the people of Cambodia, the other two are located in Cullman and Decatur. For Chy, the best part of owning three restaurants is just the cooking, he said.

With shelves continually depleting only to be filled with hot, fresh-baked goodness seconds later, the Khouns and crew at K-May Donuts on U.S. 72 across from Lowe’s, plan to keep Athenians happy for a long time.