Independence-based Space Cowboys Restaurant Group has purchased 15 Donatos locations in the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky area from the Titan Restaurant Group.
The ownership titles have been transferred from Titan Restaurant Group, according to a press release. Post-acquisition, Space Cowboys is now the second-largest Donatos franchise ownership group, boasting 17 total locations. Prior to the sale, the group previously opening two locations in Independence and Highland Heights, both of which they own.
“Our main focus will be to continue investing in our staff and ensuring we have the right people in the right places to offer a work environment people want to work at,” said Space Cowboys cofounder Bill Aseere. “We also want to be even more visible in the community as we find creative and fun ways to be engaged with the communities we live in and care for.”
Aseere said he decided to go all in on the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky market when he found out that Titan Restaurant Group partner Mike Simon was considering retirement. Aseere called him a mentor.
“Mike has been a tremendous asset for not just me, but the Donatos system as a whole,” Aseere said. “His knowledge of how to do business the right way – making a profit while also taking care of the pillars that matter (people, community, and quality) – has really translated into a great mentorship for me the past five years.”
Besides Donatos, the group owns and operates Whit’s Frozen Custard in Independence and Highland Heights, and Guthrie’s Chicken Fingers in Fort Wright and Erlanger.
Aseere became a franchise partner for Donatos in 2018 when he expressed interest in adding more locations to the Northern Kentucky market. At the time, there were only four Donatos locations in Northern Kentucky.
He was to accrue knowledge about the pizza business through working at LaRosa’s. He started as a dishwasher, then rose up the ranks to become a district manager of three LaRosa’s locations — serving in a leadership role for 17 years.
Space Cowboys was founded in 2017 by Aseere and his childhood friend Mike Ash. They later added their friend Mark Halpin as a partner. Their business’s unique ‘Space Cowboys’ name is derived from the famous Steve Miller Band song ‘The Joker.’
In an interview with LINK nky last October, Aseere said he had lofty expectations for the business in 2023.
“Let’s just say that 2023 is going to be a monumental year for Space Cowboys,” Aseere said.