Houston’s own Shipley Donuts is heading up I-75, with the Texas-born chain signing a three-unit franchise deal to plant its flag in Cincinnati, marking the brand’s first locations in Ohio. Franchise group Koelache Co. LLC plans to open the first shop in the first quarter of 2027, then follow with two more stores by 2029. Locals can look forward to Shipley’s hot glazed donuts and Texas-style kolaches when the doors finally open.
Koetting Family To Bring Shipley To Cincinnati
The agreement is with Koelache Co. LLC, a Houston-based franchise group led by Don and Kat Koetting and Don's parents, Fred and Lisa Koetting. The move is a bit of a homecoming play for the family, which has ties to the Ohio River Valley. In a press release via PR Newswire, Don Koetting said, "Shipley's donuts and kolaches are unlike anything in the Cincinnati market, and we believe Ohio will quickly fall in love with the brand." The release also notes Don Koetting's background in finance and franchise operations, along with Kathryn Koetting's experience in legal and logistics.
Timeline And Local Rollout
According to Shopping Center Business, the three-unit agreement covers the Cincinnati area, with Koelache planning to open the first Shipley location in the first quarter of 2027. The remaining two sites are expected to come online through 2029 as part of Shipley’s broader push into the Midwest. Official store addresses have not yet been announced, and site selection is still in progress.
What Shipley Brings To Town
Founded in Houston in 1936, Shipley Donuts now operates more than 390 franchised and company-owned restaurants across 13 states, according to the company’s announcement on PR Newswire. The brand is best known for its hot glazed donuts and savory kolaches, a Texas-style filled pastry that the release highlights as a key differentiator in new markets. Shipley has been accelerating openings in recent quarters as part of a national expansion strategy.
Local Context And What To Watch
Cincinnati is part of a larger expansion push. Shipley previously identified Ohio as a priority market when it broadened franchise recruitment, according to the Houston Chronicle. For shoppers and landlords, the variables to watch are whether the Koettings choose standalone shops, mall locations, or gas-station style partnerships, and when development permits begin to surface. Updates should follow as permits, lease filings, and grand-opening plans are filed.
Shipley’s arrival will test how a Texas-style kolache lineup fits into Cincinnati’s already crowded breakfast scene. Expect a slow drip of real estate paperwork and franchise teasers over the next year as the Koettings lock in specific sites and start turning those expansion plans into construction.
