Ag_07 said:

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Shipley is a front for some kind of drug operation.

There's no way that many people eat donuts all day. The one on Ella has a drive thru line into the evening that often spills out into Ella.

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Have you seen all the fatasses running around out there?

Having said that, I'm feeling a trip to the local Shipley's coming on.

Shipley can have a different taste (especially on the kolaches) depending on which franchise you go to. Ella, Washington/Westcott, and N Main are good, others I'm leary about or just flat do not go there (Katy Fwy at Chimney Rock, etc)

TarponChaser said:

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htxag09 said:

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We typically go to the one at the Washington roundabout. Enough traffic to keep hot donuts but never a crazy wait. No drive thru probably keeps the lol fats at other locations. I will say they've been pulling glazed donuts straight from the shelf vs fresh hot ones from the back.

Also, definitely need to stay on your toes at the roundabout as local drivers have no ****ing clue what to do when they get to it.

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Does that location still do the "Big Earl"? The upgraded sausage for those kolaches was awesome.

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My location (Yale) changed the name on the sign from "Big Earl" to "Big Shipley" or big something like that. I guess they aren't carrying Earl Campbell sausages for them any more. Still good.

The small Asian joints are usually pretty strong. When we lived in Sugar Land after Harvey we hit up Best Donuts on Williams Trace a lot.

My favorite non-Ship donut shop was Billy Dano's in Manvel, back when Manvel was just a stop light and a bunch of good dove hunting leases. Best Jalapeno sausage cheese kolaches ever.

Asian owned S&S on Jones & West has a strong kolache game.

Chewy said:

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The chocolate glazed on Main is the best damn donut anywhere. I've never seen it anywhere else.

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Amen

Mmm Shipley's glazed donuts are the best. And I always get their sausage & chees kolaches. So freaking good.

Their coffee sucks however.

Ferris Wheel Allstar said:

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I wish they would do a ham cheese and jalapeo kolache

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I like where your head is man.

Buford T. Justice said:

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I feel like I know her. What era is this commercial from? Early 90's?

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Have a young teen girl? Maybe thinking of Brenda Mendler from Disney's Good Luck Charlie. That girl is her doppelgnger.

I'm not a sausage fan unless I'm serving it up.

The Milkman said:

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AgLA06 said:

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The Milkman said:

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What could this PE firm's interest be?

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So you don't know.

The Milkman said:

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Its not like they are going to take Shipleys nationwide.

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But it couldn't be the most obvious reason.

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Youre right I dont know. But I have a hunch they arent idiots, and trying to greatly expand a local donut chain (especially at this time) would be a highly risky decision.

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The "especially at this time" part is a little different when it comes to things like donuts. Revenues have actually increased during any economic crisis we've seen so far, and Covid has been no different. My best guess is that it's something about cheap eats and sugar highs to raise people's spirits. Drive thrus are obviously critical, but the only real difference for the past several months is that it's tougher to get into the parking lot because of the line of cars.

PE may or may not want to expand, we don't really know yet. It appears as though Lawrence simply wanted to retire, and the flour & supply side alone would have been an attractive acquisition.

HtownAg92 said:

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TarponChaser said:

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htxag09 said:

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We typically go to the one at the Washington roundabout. Enough traffic to keep hot donuts but never a crazy wait. No drive thru probably keeps the lol fats at other locations. I will say they've been pulling glazed donuts straight from the shelf vs fresh hot ones from the back.

Also, definitely need to stay on your toes at the roundabout as local drivers have no ****ing clue what to do when they get to it.

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Does that location still do the "Big Earl"? The upgraded sausage for those kolaches was awesome.

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My location (Yale) changed the name on the sign from "Big Earl" to "Big Shipley" or big something like that. I guess they aren't carrying Earl Campbell sausages for them any more. Still good.

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Correct - there is no longer an agreement in place with EC (that change was made several months ago). Surprisingly, Earl wasn't aware of it at first. Some stores continued to use the Big Earl name for a while, but the sausage is different (and more expensive, btw). Still good though, and seems to be a little smokier maybe. Customers still call it an Earl, but the official name is the Big Special (I've also heard Big Shipley).

Ferris Wheel Allstar said:

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I wish they would do a ham cheese and jalapeo kolache

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They usually will if you ask them to. We sell quite a few of them.

Edit: you'll obviously have to either 1) call ahead or 2) go early while the cooks are still there and be willing to wait.

Gramercy Riffs said:

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Ferris Wheel Allstar said:

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I wish they would do a ham cheese and jalapeo kolache

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They usually will if you ask them to. We sell quite a few of them.

Edit: you'll obviously have to either 1) call ahead or 2) go early while the cooks are still there and be willing to wait.

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Yes, the North Main location does custom orders at no extra charge. Just call ahead to order and provide credit card number. i always call for their boudin and add cheese and extra jalapenos.

Butterfly Roll FTFW

Shipley Do-Nuts, the Houston-based purveyor of kolaches and doughnuts, has been acquired by Levine Leichtman Capital Partners, a private equity firm based in Beverly Hills, Calif. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. https://t.co/dycwwtmb6m pic.twitter.com/YUZOJAdtjZ

— Houston Chronicle (@HoustonChron) July 28, 2025

Shipley's got out Wataburgered. ....sold to PE ... again.

always a bigger fish out there

The only problem, that is not a Kolache. In fact, nothing Shipleys sells is considered a Kolache.

Not even debatable….

Call it what you wish, doesn't make it a Kolache. Nothing will change that fact.

Another fact, i don't think anyone is arguing but simply pointing out facts. I will state, no argument from me. Just stating a hard fact. If being factually correct is being a dork, a dork I am.

Dobre Den

The firm I worked for back in the '90's did the tax work for Shipley's. They absolutely MINTED money even back then.

Dekuju!

Ferris Wheel Allstar said:

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I wish they would do a ham cheese and jalapeo kolache

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Hruska's in Ellinger has one of those and I was excited as all get out.

I was disappointed personally. The jap just doesn't mix well with the ham and cheese IMO.

I just hope this new PE firm doesn't do what Beaver did and 86 the ham and cheese kolache. I was hella pissed when I found out Buccees no longer had them on the menu - they were far and away the best kolaches at bucees and are far and away the best kolaches from Shipleys.

The pepper jack sausage kolache at Buc-ee's was the tits but it's gone the way of the dodo bird.

As for calling meat and bread as kolaches being a sin, I hope those same people order sliced grilled chicken breast at Mexican restaurants and don't order chicken or mixed fajitas.

Would only be fair and righteous if you're gonna die on that hill.

schmellba99 said:

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Ferris Wheel Allstar said:

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I wish they would do a ham cheese and jalapeo kolache

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Hruska's in Ellinger has one of those and I was excited as all get out.

I was disappointed personally. The jap just doesn't mix well with the ham and cheese IMO.

I just hope this new PE firm doesn't do what Beaver did and 86 the ham and cheese kolache. I was hella pissed when I found out Buccees no longer had them on the menu - they were far and away the best kolaches at bucees and are far and away the best kolaches from Shipleys.

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Facts

There are no meat kolaches.

The Mezcun ladies look at me weird when I order the jalapeno and sausage klobasnek (or whatever the f you dorks call them) so guess what...I call it a kolache.

Maybe they look at you weird for reasons other than what you refer to a Czech pastry? Dont know, you would have to ask them.

But me being a dork, i own it. But me being a dork has nothing to do with what others mistakenly call a Czech pastry.


Buh vam zehnej a dobrou noc

BBQ said:

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Call it what you wish, doesn't make it a Kolache. Nothing will change that fact.

Another fact, i don't think anyone is arguing but simply pointing out facts. I will state, no argument from me. Just stating a hard fact. If being factually correct is being a dork, a dork I am.

Dobre Den

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I can't tell if you are being factual or not.

Not at all and that is a fact