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Travel plans being changed ultimately led to a career change for Analyn Norato, the co-owner of Tomball’s brand new Niky’s Mini Donuts & Ice Cream. When customers have their taste buds electrified by the donuts, ice cream, candy and coffee at Niky’s, they’ll have a power outage to thank for their confectionary contentment.
Had it not been for Hurricane Beryl’s impact on the greater Houston area last summer, Analyn and her husband Enrique likely would not be the owners of Niky’s Mini Donuts & Ice Cream located at 1417 Graham Drive in Tomball. In fact, it’s reasonable to imagine they would have never even discovered the Niky’s franchise. “This was really meant for us,” Analyn believes.
The Norato family was slated to fly home to their native California Wednesday July 10, 2024. But two days earlier, Hurricane Beryl made landfall and snarled regularly scheduled air travel from Houston airports – including their flight. The day after her family’s trip was cancelled and now back in Tomball, Analyn was hungry for Japanese food and suggested the family venture to a restaurant in nearby Spring. However, upon arriving, she learned the chosen dinner destination was among the 2.7 million households and businesses without power due to the storm and had to pivot to the next option. A quick internet search and phone call to confirm the subsequent establishment was open and operating led Analyn and her family to dine at a Japanese restaurant located in the same shopping center as, at the time, the greater Houston area’s only Niky’s Mini Donuts & Ice Cream franchise.
Analyn and Enrique are the proud parents of 11-year-old twin boys. The name of one of their sons is Nicholas and they call him Nicky.
“The name Niky was the first thing I saw, so we had to try it,” Analyn recalled upon seeing a familiar name on the store’s sign after her family arrived for dinner at the shopping center. “And after we tasted the mini donuts and saw how they’re made to order and decorated in front of you, I told my family we absolutely have to come back here sometime.”
Turns out, ‘here’ would be even closer to home for the Noratos.
Days later, while driving in Tomball, Analyn and her husband passed the newly constructed retail center on Graham Drive operated by TPC Real Estate Corporation. Without even being sure the business granted franchises, Enrique noted it would be an ideal spot to put a Niky’s Mini Donuts & Ice Cream. Within that same week, Analyn had contacted the franchisor, learned franchise opportunities were available and decided this would be her family’s first business investment.
“This is the biggest thing we’ve ever done,” Analyn admitted about her family’s decision to purchase a Niky’s franchise and open it in Tomball – marking only the second Niky’s location in greater Houston. “This is the perfect space to do it, too,” Analyn said of the location at 1417 Graham Drive. “We’re accessible from the Four Corners and we’re the first tenants in the center. If we couldn’t have opened it here, we probably wouldn't have done it at all.”
Aside from location, Analyn also feels her store’s flexibility in hours and options will be attractive to customers. “We have everything – and something for everyone,” Analyn pointed out about the shop that will be open seven days a week until at least 9 p.m. each night. “We have donuts, coffee, 36 flavors of homemade ice cream, milkshakes, candy – even spiked ice cream for the adults. We are a one-stop shop for the whole family.”
While Analyn is proud of the range offered by Niky’s, when it came to opening her franchise in Tomball – there was zero variety at play.
“Opening our business in Tomball was non-negotiable,” Analyn revealed. “It’s a great place to live with great people, so it will be the perfect spot for our new shop.”
Without any prior connections to the area, five years ago she and her family chose to relocate to Tomball from California. “We’ve been so impressed with the schools and the people,” Analyn shared. “Everyone is so friendly and welcoming.”
Analyn says she’s already felt the support of the community and business partners like the Tomball Economic Development Corporation (TEDC), which awarded her a performance-based rental subsidy and Business Improvement Grant, as she and her family prepared to open Niky’s.
“The TEDC has been incredibly helpful and insightful,” she noted. “When you’re a small business, every bit of help truly counts. Families like ours are betting their life savings hoping this will work out, and it’s comforting to know we have so many people supporting us and wanting us to succeed.”
A powerful force of nature helped lead Analyn Norato to open a Niky’s Mini Donuts & Ice Cream franchise. The strength of Tomball’s collaborative spirit is what gives her confidence the family-owned business will thrive.