Pizza News

Luscious customizable cinnamon rolls restaurant headed for Mesquite

You can smell the cinnamon from here.

Cinnaholic.com

A concept that specializes in cinnamon rolls is opening in Mesquite: Cinnaholic, an innovative chain based in Atlanta and one of the fastest growing plant-based concepts in the country, will open at 1300 N. Town East Blvd., at the intersection of Independence Drive, where it will serve their famous customizable cinnamon rolls and other desserts seven days a week.

According to a release, it'll open on September 2.

Cinnaholic is the only concept where customers can completely customize their cinnamon rolls, with more than 20 frosting flavors and 20-plus topping choices. Each cinnamon roll is 100% plant-based and free of dairy, lactose, eggs or cholesterol, without worry about dietary or allergy restrictions.

Cinnaholic–Mesquite will feature the same menu as other locations, including cinnamon rolls, edible cookie dough, brownies, cookies, Baby Buns, and Cinnacakes.

Most popular Cinnamon Roll flavors include:

Old Skool – classic cinnamon roll with vanilla frosting
Cookie Monster – cream cheese frosting, cookie dough, chocolate chips and chocolate sauce
Caramel Apple Pie – caramel frosting, homemade pie crumble, fresh apples, caramel sauce
Campfire S'mores – marshmallow frosting, graham cookies, marshmallows, chocolate sauce

Seasonal menu items are anticipated including the rollout of Pumpkin products for fall

The company was founded in 2010 and became famous after an appearance on Shark Tank in 2014. They opened their first DFW location in Southlake in 2015. There are currently seven locations in the area with another set to open in Murphy in 2022. They've enjoyed tremendous growth in the past two years, with more than 70 locations in the U.S. and Canada, and many more anticipated for 2023.

All Cinnaholic stores are locally owned and operated. Mesquite is from Donovon K. Ridley, Jr., a Dallas native who attended Skyline High School and Keller Grad School of Business where he received his Master's Degree in accounting.

He became a Cinnaholic fan after first trying the product, and knew he wanted to open a location.

"The quality of Cinnaholic is unlike anything I've tried in the Mesquite area, and I knew I wanted to blend my professional accounting experience with a lifelong goal of being a small business owner by opening a Cinnaholic and building upon their success across the country," Ridley says in a statement. "I'm especially excited and proud to open a business in Mesquite, and bring this amazing plant-based product to the community."

Cinnaholic–Mesquite will offer catering and large-size ordering as well for events, meetings and more. The store will host a grand opening party on September 2 from 10 am-2 pm with discounts and festivities.

desserts openings

Smoothie News

Healthy smoothie chain from the Northeast makes Dallas-area debut

Fresh Monkee

Fresh Monkee smoothies

A smoothie chain from the Northeast has landed in Dallas-Fort Worth: Called Fresh Monkee, it's a chain from Connecticut that made its DFW debut in Richardson at 3501 Custer Pkwy. #119, in the Custer Creek shopping center, where it opened July 1.

Fresh Monkee was founded by entrepreneur Judy Flynn in Wethersfield, Connecticut in 2014. It has since expanded to 20 locations across 15 states. Four locations are planned for Texas, including Austin and Houston. The Richardson location is from franchisees Anam and Omer Nawab.

In a release, Flynn notes that many smoothie places rely on sugary fruit blends and "strange" powders.

"Most juice bars strip away the fiber from fruits and veggies, which is essential for a healthy gut and feeling satisfied," Flynn says in a press release. "I was convinced we could do better."

Their menu includes 30 varieties: fruit smoothies, green smoothies, chocolate smoothies, and coffee smoothies, with seasonal flavors such as the summer-ready watermelon strawberry limeade shake.

Notable options include:

Chunkee Monkee — milk, chocolate or vanilla protein powder, banana, and peanut butter
Filthy Monkee — milk, chocolate protein powder, brownie protein bar, and peanut butter
Coffee Buzz — milk, a splash of cream, chocolate protein powder, coffee cubes, vanilla extract, and Stevia
Orange Cream — milk, orange juice, vanilla protein, and a whole orange
Maui Colada — coconut milk, orange juice, vanilla protein, unsweetened coconut shreds, pineapple, and mango

They also carry a protein ball snack with peanut butter, oat flour, chocolate whey protein, and maple syrup, rolled in coconut oil and chocolate chips.

Each location has indoor seating, including couches and tables, but they're mainly a to-go concept.

Another pair of franchisees, Clarence Gadapati and Karuna Annavajjala, are opening a location in Arlington, at 5904 S. Cooper St. #120, in the Sublett Corners center, where it will open in August.

openings