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History of Cinnabon

Cinnabon logo Image

Wednesday Dec 4, 1985 to Present

U.S.

Cinnabon is an American chain of baked goods stores and kiosks, normally found in areas with high pedestrian traffic such as malls, airports and rest stops. The company's signature item is a cinnamon roll. As of December 2017, over 1,200 Cinnabon bakeries were operating in 48 countries. Its headquarters are in Sandy Springs, Georgia, United States.

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  • Federal Way, Washington, U.S.
    Wednesday Dec 4, 1985

    Opening The First Cinnabon

    Federal Way, Washington, U.S.
    Wednesday Dec 4, 1985

    The first Cinnabon opened on December 4, 1985, Federal Way, Washington at SeaTac Mall, now called The Commons at Federal Way. Cinnabon was an offshoot of the Seattle Based Restaurants Unlimited restaurant chain majority owned by Rich Komen with minority partner and CEO Ray Lindstrom at the helm.



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  • Seattle, Washington, U.S.
    Aug, 1986

    Opening Cinnabon's First Franchise-Operated Store

    Seattle, Washington, U.S.
    Aug, 1986

    Komen and Lindstrom wanted to create the perfect cinnamon roll, eventually hiring Jerilyn Brusseau to finalize the recipe since Brusseau was famous for her baking in the Seattle area. The first bakery began by serving only its cinnamon rolls with a sign touting "World Famous Cinnamon Rolls". Cinnabon's first franchise-operated store opened in August 1986 just outside of Seattle.



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  • SeaTac, Washington, U.S.
    1991

    The First Cinnabon Store In SeaTac Mall

    SeaTac, Washington, U.S.
    1991

    In 1991, the first Cinnabon store in SeaTac mall was opened.



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  • Miami, Florida, U.S.
    1998

    AFC Enterprises, Inc. bought Cinnabon

    Miami, Florida, U.S.
    1998

    Cinnabon was bought by AFC Enterprises, Inc. in 1998 for $65 million.



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  • Greater Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
    1999

    Moving The Headquarters

    Greater Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
    1999

    The headquarters moved to Greater Atlanta in 1999.



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  • Sandy Springs, Georgia, U.S.
    2004

    FOCUS Brands, Inc. bought Cinnabon

    Sandy Springs, Georgia, U.S.
    2004

    In 2004, AFC Enterprises, Inc., sold Cinnabon for $30.3 million to FOCUS Brands, Inc., which is owned by the Atlanta-based private equity firm Roark Capital Group.



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