Grand openings today for the 2 newest Dayton-area Dunkin’ Donuts shops

Dunkin’ — the doughnut chain formerly known as “Dunkin’ Donuts” — will host ribbon-cuttings and formal grand-opening events at its two newest Dayton-area stores on Thursday, Feb. 20.

The events will include special programs, entertainment, and food and beverage samples; the public is invited to attend the festivities, according to a spokeswoman for the southwest Ohio franchisee for  Dunkin’.

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The grand opening for the new Dunkin’ shop at 2835 Harshman Road in Dayton will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, and will include representatives of the city of Dayton and from Dayton Children’s Hospital, as well as Dunkin’ mascot “Sprinkles” and representatives of the Gilligan Company, the franchisee for Dayton- and Cincinnati-area Dunkin’ shops. The Dayton shop opened its doors last fall but held off on its grand opening until now.

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As part of the ceremonies at the Harshman Road doughnut shop, the Gilligan Company will present Dayton Children’s with a check for $28,000 as the franchisee’s Charitable Partner for 2019. In addition, Anthony Muñoz, president of the Anthony Muñoz Foundation and former Cincinnati Bengal NFL Hall-of-Fame member, will be on hand to cut the ribbon as the 2020 Charitable Partner for the southwest Ohio Dunkin’ stores.

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The second grand opening and ribbon-cutting on Thursday will take place at noon at 1505 N. Fairfield Road in Beavercreek. A check presentation will be made to Young Life Dayton, a non-profit organization that helps young people in the Dayton region. The Beavercreek location also opened in late 2019.

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It was Pat Gilligan, owner of the Gilligan Company, who vowed in 2013 to open a dozen or more new Dunkin’ shops in the Miami Valley over the subsequent  years, after the Dunkin’ Donuts local footprint had shrunk to one store in Miami Twp. that was (and still is) co-branded with Baskin Robbins Ice Cream and under separate franchise ownership.

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Seven years later, Gilligan is well on his way to fulfilling his promise. He has opened locations in Kettering, Centerville, Sugarcreek Twp., Fairborn, Washington Twp., Springfield and Riverside in the last six years, prior to the fall openings of the newest Dayton and Beavercreek locations.

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In addition to an array of coffee and espresso beverages, Dunkin’ also serves a menu of hot teas, frozen beverages, doughnuts, other bakery goods as well as a selection of sandwiches. The new restaurants offer free Wi-Fi, interior seating, and drive-through service from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. All Dunkin’ menu items are available throughout the day. The shops also offer mobile ordering and a DD Perks rewards program.

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