Shipley Do-Nuts, which has more than 375 shops nationwide, has opened its first location in the state of Virginia. The new shop in Lynchburg marks the brand's expansion into its 14th state.

Owned by Lexington, Virginia-based businessman and Texas native Jody Mask, the new Virginia store is the first of three Shipley locations slated to open in the state under his development agreement.

"Like generations of people who grew up in Texas, visiting Shipley in the mornings was a weekly family tradition, and I shared it with my kids before we moved to Virginia," Mask says. "I can't wait to introduce the world's greatest donut to Virginians, who I hope will start their own family traditions with us."

The Eastern Seaboard remains a priority region for the brand. Shipley is actively recruiting franchisees throughout Virginia, including Richmond, Roanoke and Virginia Beach, in addition to the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida.

"Entering Virginia marks an important step in our growth strategy as we continue to grow our footprint along the East Coast," says Shipley Do-Nuts senior vice president of franchise development Keith Sizemore. "We opened our first North Carolina shop earlier this year and recently opened our third location in Maryland. We're seeing tremendous success as this part of the country gets a taste of our fresh, handmade donuts and kolaches."

Shipley is expanding at a record pace nationally, with available territories in 46 states. Most recently, the brand signed a deal to bring over 30 Shipley locations to South Florida and New Mexico.