HOUSTON – (Realty News Report) – Shipley Do-Nuts, an iconic Houston-based donut organization, is making a major move into Colorado with assistance from Houston businessman Corby Robertson III, who is part of the famed Cullen Family.
Founded in 1936, Shipley franchises over 330 restaurants to a operators across 11 states and has served its do-nuts, kolaches and beverages to generations of guests.
Robertson is chairman of Meisternuts LLC, which has acquired two existing Colorado locations in Aurora and Fountain and plans to open 16 additional new locations in an exclusive development deal for Colorado Springs and the greater Denver area.
As a fourth-generation Houstonian, Robertson said he has been a Shipley donut fan his whole life. “I grew up with Shipley — my parents grew up with Shipley, too — and we’ve always loved the do-nuts, so for starters, it’s a brand I know and believe in,” said Robertson.
Hugh Roy Cullen – Oilman & Philanthropist
Robertson is part of the renowned Cullen Family of Hugh Roy Cullen, who struck oil in 1928 and was a leader in the formative years of the Texas oil business.
The Cullens, responsible for the development of the Cullen Center skyscraper complex in downtown Houston, were major donors to the University of Houston.
In the past year, Shipley has adopted a new coffee program, launched online ordering and begun testing a new loyalty program. It also inked deals to enter multiple new markets, including Maryland, Virginia, Georgia, and Orlando, Florida.
“With two locations already doing very well in Colorado, we’ve had our sights on expansion in the state for some time,” said Shipley Do-Nuts CEO Clifton Rutledge. “Corby and the Meisternuts team are not only experienced, multi-unit, multi-brand franchisees, they also know Shipley well and have a great track record as operators who know how to grow a brand.”
Led by Robertson, the Meisternuts group includes brothers Jeff Howes, who oversees real estate development and the operations team along with Mike Cummings and Robert Long, and Ryan Howes, who heads finance and accounting. The team owns 42 Five Guys locations and 13 Zaxby’s restaurants in Idaho, Massachusetts, Texas, Utah and Wyoming.
Feb. 28, 2023 Realty News Report Copyright 2023
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Photo: Shipley Do-Nut exterior. Courtesy (PRNewsfoto/Shipley Do-Nuts)
File: Shipley Do-Nuts Invades Colorado