“I’m struggling to find things I actually miss about practicing law,” smiles CHOMP Donuts owner Rick Nemeroff with feigned bemusement. “CHOMP has provided such fulfilling replacements for legal work, like once again working with talented people.”
Rick’s from-scratch approach is always on display at CHOMP. The kitchen famously serves as the front window, with customers pressed against the glass to watch chefs whip up fresh donuts, fillings, and toppings. “We have no barriers,” he smiles. “If someone wonders about the taste of our donut’s Boston crème, we say, ‘Grab a spoon, head to the walk-in and have a taste!’”
Community connections are a CHOMP priority. Firefighters, educators, and police officers are often on the receiving end of complimentary, high-quality confections. “Whenever we can, we give back to those who do so much for us,” he avers. “The reaction is fabulous.”
Rick and family first discovered Park City during winter breaks in the early 2000s. “We fell in love,” he smiles. Soon after, they relocated for good, Rick’s legal practice in tow, and he dove into community life, serving on the boards of the PC Hospital Foundation and Park City Day School.
So why the career switch? “I’ve always wanted to do something in the food business,” he recalls. “It took a hard pivot to shake that dream loose and find such joy in my work.” Cheerfully rubbing elbows with neighbors makes it all worthwhile. “Great donuts and coffee are just the beginning,” he says. “So many of our five-star reviews mention our people. It’s a real win when folks go out of their way to write about how well they were treated.”
Today, with two children in college, Rick enjoys the Mountainkind lifestyle and working alongside life partner Leah Erickson at CHOMP. Courts and torts are in the rearview mirror. “It took a while,” he concludes, “but I am exactly where I want to be with the people I want to be with.”