Shipley Do-Nut Exterior

Shipley Do-Nuts — as in, made-fresh-daily donuts for 85 years — has announced deals with two longtime franchise operators to develop some 20 new locations in North and South Texas. Only one Dallas location has been announced so far.

Restaurateur Sam Khader, who owns and operates Dimassi’s Mediterranean Buffet in Richardson (along with about 25 locations across Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio, Austin and McAllen) will open his first Shipley Do-Nuts in North Dallas near Addison in June.

Khader’s new agreement includes additional locations in Corsicana, Ennis, Mesquite, Forney, Greenville and Terrell. The North Dallas location will be just the No. 2 Shipley in Dallas proper; the existing is on Ferguson in the Casa View neighborhood of East Dallas.

“Like so many Houstonians, I grew up eating Shipley Do-Nuts with my family every Sunday, and when I moved to Dallas, I wanted to continue that tradition with my son,” Khader says. “Shipley presents a great opportunity personally and from a business perspective, especially with the company’s new leadership that is focused on growth, franchisee success and guest experience. I look forward to bringing my love for Shipley to new generations of North Texans.”

Mohammed Ahmed, a multi-brand franchisee who owns more than 95 Jack in the Box restaurants in Texas markets, as well as Denny’s, Church’s Chicken and Mr. Gatti’s Pizza locations, also signed a deal and will open his first Shipley Do-Nuts in South Texas this spring, Shipley reported.

“I want to be part of this company’s success,” Ahmad says. “Adding Shipley to my brand portfolio will strengthen the morning daypart across my business with a high-quality, craveable product that is superior to other do-nut brands.”

Shipley, which started pushing its mouthwatering spheres of sweet deep-fried dough in Houston in 1936, is coming off a record-setting year for unit growth, according to a news release. The company has agreements in place to open more than 350 new locations throughout Texas, Georgia, Maryland, Tennessee, Florida and Colorado over the next five years.

“Shipley’s unprecedented growth is being fueled by experienced multiunit operators like Mohammed and Sam who see the brand’s phenomenal potential,” Shipley Do-Nuts CEO Clifton Rutledge says. “Our strategy has been to continue building out our home markets in Texas, where fans know and love us, while also working to bring ‘The World’s Greatest Do-Nut’ to new markets …”