Houma donut shop expanding into B.R. market with Lee Drive location

Houma-based Mr. Ronnie’s Famous Hot Donuts is branching out to Baton Rouge, with plans to open a shop on Lee Drive near the intersection of Highland Road. Chris Shaheen of Saurage Rotenberg Commercial Real Estate says Mr. Ronnie’s and a Little Caesars pizza franchise have thus far inked deals to occupy a 6,000-square-foot retail center going up at 216 Lee Drive. The center is expected to be complete in about four months. “They sell donuts and Krystal burgers,” says Shaheen of Mr. Ronnie’s. “Supposed to be the best donuts in the world.” About 2,200 square feet of space remains available in the strip center, Shaheen says, and could be split to accommodate two tenants, if necessary. Isle of Louisiane Car Wash was recently demolished on the site to make way for the development. Just down the road at 320 Lee Drive, Shaheen says, he’s also working on the redevelopment of the Extreme Clean Car Wash site. That car wash is also being demolished, and along with a vacant adjacent tract of land, the site will be developed into a pair of 7,000-square-foot retail centers that should be finished in about nine months. While Shaheen says he has inked letters of intent with tenants for the end caps of each retail center, he says he cannot yet name them. —Rachel Alexander