Nationally recognized coffee and baked goods brand Dunkin' Donuts has two locations to add to its expanding line of franchise businesses. The new stores located in Omaha, Nebraska, and La Crosse, Wisconsin, will serve to help the chain grow in the Midwest.
Franchisee partners The Berliner Group is the owner of the new Omaha location on West Maple Road and 162nd Street, which will serve a full menu and operate daily from 5am to 9pm. This marks the group's sixth Dunkin' Donuts store, and they also operate another three locations in the Kansas City area. According to the Berliner's chief executive, former University of Nebraska football player Kris Brown, the investors are excited to take advantage of this franchise opportunity and open another location in the Omaha area.
A grand opening was scheduled for Friday, March 11, from 7am to 10am, with a ribbon cutting planned for 9am. The Berliner Group will be presented a donation to the local TeamMates Mentoring Program, an organization that provides encouragement and support to school-aged youth. Any customers who donated to the cause on the grand opening day received a free Dunkin’ Donuts mug while supplies lasted.
Meanwhile, the new Dunkin' Donuts in La Crosse recently held a soft opening, with a grand opening celebration planned for the future. This store, which is located on South Losey Boulevard, is owned by Wisconsin Dells-based franchisee Travel Mart, Inc., who is also searching for sites for a second location in the La Crosse/Onalaska area.
Travel Mart, Inc. Chief Executive Officer Jeremy Alsaker says the franchisee prefers a soft opening to help keep everything running smoothly on the first day of operations. Word of the new store opening did get around on social media, with some customers that day appearing to be surprised that the store had opened. This new location has around 40 employees and two levels with a total of 37 seats, and they will have outdoor seating in the spring. Dunkin' Donuts La Crosse has a 24-hour drive-thru, with the inside open from 5 am to 10 pm daily.
Dunkin' Donuts Franchise Opportunity At A Glance
The Dunkin' brand has more than a century of franchise experience and is widely held as a leader in the coffee shop industry. A 2012 CBIG Awareness Omnibus Study, for example, estimated the chain's brand awareness at an astounding 94 percent. With more than 9,000 locations operating today and more to be added, Dunkin' Donuts is likely to remain a powerhouse now and in the future.
A qualified Dunkin' Donuts franchisee will have the capital required for his or her preferred store type and location. The lowest minimum capital requirements for any Dunkin' Donuts location is a $500,000 net worth, with at least $250,000 liquid, and the investment level for this franchise generally ranges from $500,000 to $1,000,000.
