Franchisee Robb Hamlett said July 30 he intends to open the area’s first Shipley Do-Nuts shop and drive-thru in October.
The city issued a permit July 29 for Equity Builders of Florida L.L.C. to build-out 1,576 square feet for the shop at 12667 Beach Blvd., No. 101, at Tamaya Market at a cost of $228,759.
Tamaya Market is the shopping center anchored by Sprouts Farmers Market at Beach and Kernan boulevards.
Shipley will occupy an end unit of a three-tenant building that includes Heartland Dental.
Hamlett is the Jacksonville franchise owner for Houston-based Shipley Do-Nuts with his wife, Tracy Hamlett, and his brother and sister-in-law, Eddie and Kristen Jones.
Hamlett said in April they initially wanted to open in July but were delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hamlett said then that Shipley Do-Nuts will operate 5 a.m.-6 p.m. Daily.
The chain sells iced and filled doughnuts; cinnamon, ice nut, apple cinnamon, and cream cheese rolls; donut holes; and other pastries, such as apple fritters. It also sells kolaches, and drinks like coffee, milk and juices. Pastries are made fresh daily.
Hamlett’s wife is from Waco, Texas, and the couple would patronize a Shipley shop on visits.
Started in 1936 by Lawrence Shipley Sr., Shipley Do-Nuts operates more than 300 stores in eight states.
The closest Shipley to Jacksonville is in Bradenton. Hamlett said his group’s goal is to add more area franchise stores.
The Hamletts moved to the Jacksonville area in 2000 from Charlottesville, Virginia, when Robb Hamlett was brought to town on a contract with the supermarket industry.
Shipley Do-Nuts is known for its glazed yeast doughnuts, “and they have been a hit wherever they have gone,” Hamlett said.
He said the pastries can be purchased separately, or by the half-dozen or dozen.
Hamlett said in April his group has been working on the deal for about 2½ years, but declined to provide its investment in the franchise.
Hamlett’s group worked with Stanton Hudmon, a partner in the Pine Street/RPS LLC commercial real estate firm, with its lease negotiations.
Hamlett said Colliers International Director Nancy Sumner represented Tamaya Market landlord Harbour Retail Partners of Wilmington, North Carolina.
The location needed to be on the morning side of traffic in a busy area with a drive-thru.
“We are pretty confident that the people of Jacksonville will love it,” Hamlett said.
