HOUSTON — I wouldn’t normally accept restaurant recommendations, or any other idea on how to get a taste for the cities I drop in on, sometimes for mere hours, while on the campaign trail from the politicians I’m chasing around the country. But when former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg name-checked Shipley Do-Nuts during a stop in Houston, I hate to admit I was intrigued, both by the notion of a sweet treat after a long, early morning flight and by the mental image of the billionaire ordering one for himself.
Though I didn’t get to witness Bloomberg asking for a cherry-infused variety from an unsuspecting staff member manning the counter, I did decide to visit a Shipley Do-Nuts while I waited to check into my hotel.
Shipley Do-Nuts, offering a menu of 60-plus types of donuts, a smaller selection of kolaches and coffee, was founded in 1936 toward the end of the Great Depression by Lawrence Shipley Sr., who used to hand-cut the sugar-laden circles at the original 1417 Crockett Street storefront, telling his children that the secret ingredients to his success were serving them warm and fresh.
From those humble beginnings, the Shipley family business has since expanded to include 227 stores nationwide, in states such as Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee, showcasing its traditional yeast, filled, and cake signature fare. It also hosts the Shipley Do-Nut Dash, an annual, 2-mile donut-themed obstacle course to raise money for disadvantaged Houston children, and was the muse for a mural on one of the city’s major highways.
While the sites, tying in the red, brown, and white theme of the company’s logo, are unassuming, the deliciousness and balance of their simple plain-glazed product can’t be overstated. Proud that I was able to happen upon a Shipley’s within four hours of being in Houston, I messaged a friend who’d suggested a list of great barbecue, Tex Mex, and even Pakistani/Indian dinner options.
“Lol they are an institution, but I’m not a donut guy,” he wrote back, comparing Texas’s affinity with the chain to New England’s obsession with Dunkin’ Donuts. “You should also try kolaches,” he added.
So, I did (a sausage and cheese one recommended by a staffer who was confused by my choice to start with dessert rather than a savory item).
Now, to check into my hotel and hopefully hop on a treadmill before more campaign-related news breaks.
