SHREVEPORT, La. — Shipley Donuts, the Houston-based donut and kolache brand, has signed a franchise agreement to open five new shops in the Shreveport-Bossier City area, marking its first entry into Northwest Louisiana.

The expansion deal with BC Restaurant Holding LLC, led by local residents Steve Watkins and Walter Bigby, projects the first location will open in late 2026. Four additional shops are planned over the following three years.

Watkins and Bigby have a decade of franchise experience and currently operate five Zaxby's and two Jersey Mike's restaurants in the Shreveport-Bossier market.

Shipley, founded in 1936, is known for its signature handmade glazed donuts and more than 60 other varieties. The company currently has seven locations in central and South Louisiana. The new de

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