Operations
Dunkin': 2,600 US dining rooms open ... and counting
April 27, 2021
Dunkin' has now reopened 2,600 dining rooms nationally, with more coming online daily as the pandemic infection rate in the U.S. moderates. Nationally, Dunkin' has approximately 9,400 stores total.
Throughout the past year, more than 90% of its restaurants were open for for drive-thru ordering, carryout, curbside service and third-party delivery, but many customers miss eating in the store, according to a press release.
In Atlanta, franchisees James Laskaris and Stephen Attard recently reopened dining rooms at all of their locations, including the one that serves five longtime friends who have been frequenting their Sandy Springs, Georgia store every day since 1984. The group was ecstatic when they learned their meeting place was once again open to sit and sip, the company said.
"Dunkin' is the place for friends to come together, share their daily experiences, and enjoy a daily laugh and some sentimental talk with a sip of coffee and bite of food," Attard said in the release. "This group started running back to Dunkin' as soon as we opened the dining room to carry on their tradition. Dunkin' is their second home and we're excited to welcome more groups like this back into our restaurants."
In Connecticut and New York, Dunkin' franchisee Jim Cain, of Cain Management, was also welcoming customers back to their "safe place."
"Dunkin' has been — and always will be — there for our guests," Cain said in the release. "As we continue to see restrictions loosen, and our dining rooms reopen, you can feel that spark of energy from our restaurant team members and guests fill the restaurants. We continue to build our guests' confidence with great food and drinks and are thrilled to welcome them back to their special place."
Dunkin' said its safety standards and measures will continue, such as social distancing and required hygiene training, face masks, plexiglass shields for each restaurant's front counter, and recommended restaurant employee health checks using infrared thermometers.
"As we continue to navigate through the challenges of the COVID-19 crisis, we want to reinforce our ongoing commitment to the health and safety of guests, franchisees, employees, and the communities we serve," Scott Murphy, Dunkin' president, said in the release. "We're continuing our legacy of being there when people need us most and we have a thoughtful approach with our franchisees to reopen as many dining rooms as possible by summer to welcome our guests for inside dining."
