Dr. Doughnut and Mr. Referee

It’s a safe bet that John Cone is the only person in the country (possibly the world) who could put on his business card the dual title of doughnut store owner and wrestling referee. For the past 10 years, Cone and his wife have been the proprietors of the North Kansas City Donut King and for the past three years he has also traveled more miles than he can count referring WWE matches.

It’s a double life of working the night shift at the store one week and appearing in front of more than 10,000 people and countless more on television the next week. Despite the hectic schedule Cone is content to keep things the way they are. “In fact when I’m on the road, I’m always on the lookout for businesses and ideas I can steal,” Cone said. Not that he’s looking for a way to reinvent his business. The Cones are third-generation Donut King owners, and in many ways they still run it as it was when it opened in 1969.

Doughnuts are made throughout the day and the Cones are very

hands-on-owners, though John admits he doesn’t work as much as he used

to. “I’ll be gone up to three weeks at a time but we’ve got great

employees which makes it so much easier.” When time permits (pretty much any time but the morning rush), employees stuff creme doughnuts to order. Often, people come by just to hang out and chat.

Tracking where Cone goes is a full-time job in of itself.