Shipley Donuts, the Houston-based donut and kolache chain, is getting ready to make its Michigan debut in Metro Detroit, with the first location currently being finalized in Oakland, Macomb, or Wayne County.
The company’s Michigan expansion comes through a 15-unit franchise agreement with Hole Lotta Dough LLC, with the first location targeted for late Q1 2027, according to a press release. Franchise owner Nasir Siddiqui tells What Now Detroit that the group is actively working with Shipley’s real estate team and local real estate companies to select its first site. The agreement calls for three additional shops per year over the following four years, bringing 15 Shipley locations to Metro Detroit.
Siddiqui has lived in Michigan for more than 12 years after growing up in Texas, where Shipley Donuts was a familiar part of his childhood. He said he and his brother would visit Shipley on Saturday mornings and sometimes in the evenings, and those experiences inspired him to bring the brand to Michigan. Whole Lotta Dough’s leadership team has more than 20 years of experience in Metro Detroit’s gas and convenience store industry.
Shipley was founded in Houston in 1936 and now has more than 390 franchised and company-owned restaurants across 13 states. The menu includes fresh, handmade daily donuts, including its signature glazed donut, along with Texas-style kolaches filled with ingredients such as sausage, egg, bacon, jalapeño, and cheese. The company also recently updated its coffee program, with options including glazed donut-flavored lattes, cold foam, and donut crumbles.
Kolaches are expected to be one of the more unfamiliar offerings for Metro Detroit customers, according to Siddiqui, who said they are widely popular in the South. Shipley also offers hot drip coffee and espresso-based drinks, including the Classic Glazed Latte, while its Hot Glazed Guarantee provides warm glazed donuts until 10 a.m. daily.
“Growing up in Texas, I was aware of their product; I knew how good the donuts were. So that was the initial itch we had for our market. Now that I’m here in Michigan, I thought, ‘Man, I would love to have a Shipley Donuts here somewhere locally.’ So I just reached out, and here we are,” Siddiqui tells WhatNow Detroit. “I live here. I’ve been living here for going on 12-plus years. I have great memories; growing up, there was always a Shipley nearby, no matter where I lived in Texas. My brother and I would go there all the time, on a Saturday morning or sometimes in the evening. It was just a great treat. Honestly, we didn’t realize how good the donuts were until we tried other donuts around the country, and we realized those were some of the best donuts around growing up. So I’m trying to bring that same magic here to the locals in the Detroit market,” Siddiqui added.
