LJWorld.com weblogs Town Talk
Posted
by Chad Lawhorn
November 13, 2008 at 10:39 a.m.
Dunkin' Donuts plans to open second Lawrence store
Workers driving into downtown each morning may soon have one less excuse not to bring donuts to the office. Plans are in the works to build a new Dunkin' Donuts at the corner of Sixth and Michigan streets, said Sonny Patel, the owner of Lawrence's lone Dunkin' Donuts at 521 W. 23rd St. The store on 23rd Street will remain open. Patel said he's wanted to expand for years in Lawrence, but had to await corporate approval. "We have a lot of customers bugging us for a new location," Patel said. "They tell me that they have to drive all the way across town for their coffee."The new store - which would be on the northwest corner of the intersection - will include a drive-through lane. The store will be housed in a new 2,400-square-foot building that will replace the current building on the corner, which used to house a medical supply and equipment store. Patel said he believes the location will be a good one because it is along a main route to downtown and to Lawrence Memorial Hospital. The project currently is seeking site plan approval from city planners. Patel said he hopes to start construction in February and have the new store open in July. Perhaps the only downside: The site previously had been approved to house a Church's Chicken store, which would be the first in the city. That deal fell through. No official word on whether Church's is still looking for a site in the city, although there will be several restaurant sites available near the intersection of Sixth and Wakarusa as development progresses there. ¢ As bloggers on this site previously speculated, it is an O'Reilly Auto Parts Store that has started construction on a vacant lot east of Checkers on 23rd Street. O'Reilly spokesman Mark Merz said the new store is part of a company-wide plan to build new prototype stores in several markets. The new stores typically are larger than existing stores and feature wider aisles and more "retail showroom" space.The site - which fronts 23rd Street - previously had been proposed for apartments. Merz said the new store likely will open in about six months. The current O'Reilly store at 1008 W. 23rd St. will remain open while the new store is being constructed. But eventually that store will be remodeled for a new retailer, said local commercial real estate agent Paul Cromer. He said he has signed a tenant for the space, but said he could not yet reveal the identity of the business.
and 34 others
Marketplace
Arts & Entertainment · Bars · Theatres · Restaurants · Coffeehouses · Libraries · Antiques · Services
- Group urges Brownback to veto bill aimed at Sharia law May 15, 2012 · 54 comments
- Blog: Same Sex "Marriage" Is Biologically Impossible May 16, 2012 · 39 comments
- Border business raids cost Kansas City millions in taxes May 16, 2012 · 5 comments
- Lugar a lawmaker from a different era May 15, 2012 · 2 comments
- Kansas may be conservative experiment May 16, 2012 · 74 comments
- Sound off: Can you tell us what the safest and the lawful use of a roundabout is for bicyclists and April 29, 2012 · 61 comments
- Bishop Seabury receives FEMA grant to build safe room May 16, 2012 · 9 comments
- Poll: Should tattoos be covered up in the workplace? April 26, 2012 · 76 comments
- Republicans at war with each other over redistricting May 15, 2012 · 48 comments
- Blog: In Plain Sight 5/16/2012 May 16, 2012 · 3 comments
- Vacation's over: Self refreshed, ready for 10th season at KU May 16, 2012
- Town Talk: County's chief building officer placed on administrative leave; city still waiting on financial numbers related to 9th and N.H. appeal; neighbors near proposed rec complex hire attorney May 16, 2012
- Thread of pain ran through Jackson’s career June 28, 2009
- Kansas may be conservative experiment May 16, 2012
- Heard on the Hill: Regents to look at raising KU admission standards today; Missouri House passes amendment to spike KU plates; provost explains strategy for faculty, staff raises May 16, 2012
- KU proposes tuition hike of nearly 5 percent, effective next fall May 15, 2012
- Cardiologist — and many others — offer help to 11-year-old entrepreneur who fell victim to theft May 15, 2012
- Three KU professors awarded Fulbright grants May 16, 2012
- City Commission wants Taste Lounge's liquor license revoked May 16, 2012
- Coroner identifies deceased inmate at Douglas County Jail May 14, 2012
Comments
LJWorld.com doesn’t necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post. Read our full policy. Also, read about banned accounts and harassing comments.
lawrencechick (anonymous) says…
Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kufan57 (anonymous) says…
Yipee, finally the corner will not be an eye sore!!! Shame on whomever let that corner look like a dump...
lnga0209 (anonymous) says…
I am so excited about the new Dunkin Donuts it's not even funny... I love that place and go to it almost everyday!!!! Congrats guys hope it goes smooth for you!!!!
KUweatherman (Curtis Lange) says…
Hmm, wondered what they were doing there by Checkers. Now I know. Next question: What is being done on the land in front of the Legends apartments on Clinton Pkwy?
mapmaker (anonymous) says…
The old O'Reilly's will be where Naughty But Nice will start up again.
zettapixel (anonymous) says…
Someone contact Whataburger and get them to open up a restaurant here! Why dear Lord... WHY... do I have to drive 5 hours to Oklahoma to get a Whataburger?!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HekDXDSh540
LogicMan (anonymous) says…
Aldi's in north and in downtown Lawrence.Trader Joe's in west Lawrence.Red Lobster in the new but vacant building in front of Home Depot.Wendy's or maybe Spangles in the old Uno's building.A sports store, Toys-R-Us, or a K-Mart clearance center in the old Gibsons/Food-4-less.A gun shop, CapFed, A&W/KFC, or gas station/repair shop in the now-empty Auto Exchange on south Iowa.A Grainger's branch in the vacant bar/restaurant (Molly M.'s?) at ~24th and Iowa.The banks apparently have money to lend for small businesses/start-ups; the meek need not apply, however.
chargdup (anonymous) says…
Awesome. Glad to hear about DD.
foodboy (anonymous) says…
"Patel said he believes the location will be a good one because it is along a main route to downtown and to Lawrence Memorial Hospital." Good deal. Maybe the ambulance with heart attack victims can stop by for one last donut.
srj (anonymous) says…
Dunkin' Donuts is recession proof, I guess. And maybe O'Reilly Auto Parts Store too, might as well fix the old car instead of buying a new one.
salad (anonymous) says…
arrrrgggg!!! How about a FIRST Dunkin Donuts in Kansas City!!!!
KUweatherman (Curtis Lange) says…
zettapixel: Amen! It's no fun having to drive to OKC or Tulsa for my beloved Whataburger. It get's even more maddening during basketball season since we see their commercials.
grammaddy (anonymous) says…
can a grandma get a job there?
KUweatherman (Curtis Lange) says…
LogicMan: Pet peeve of mine; it is Aldi. "I went to Aldi today." "There needs to be a few more Aldi stores around." We don't say, "I went to Walmarts" or "I went to Targets today." There is NO 's' on the end of Aldi. Ever.
average (anonymous) says…
I have to imagine Aldi is doing exceptionally well right now. But, they're privately held, so no one knows.My humble opinion is that there is probably room for a smaller general merchandiser (ALCO or Pamida) in East Lawrence, Eudora, or between the two. Might even get some "anywhere but Walmart" shoppers from the rest of Lawrence. The risk is that, while Eudora is over 20 minutes from a Walmart today, it would be only ten if the SLT is ever completed.
Kufan57 (anonymous) says…
I think they should build a "Braums" in Lawrence...anyone eaten there??? Great Burgers...and yummy ice cream..
geniusmannumber1 (anonymous) says…
Can anyone play this game? I think we should put a Chuck E. Cheese in that building with the weird statue on the north side of the 6th and Mass intersection.
unelectable (anonymous) says…
Two words: Waffle House
Keith (anonymous) says…
The site - which fronts 23rd Street - previously had been proposed for apartments. Have we finally reached a limit on apartment building?
flux (anonymous) says…
Sonny at dunkin donuts kicks ass!
persevering_gal (anonymous) says…
Another Dunkin' Donuts is always a good thing! How about an Olive Garden too?!?!?Weatherman: What is going up in front of the Legends apartments? I have been wondering that myself.
KUweatherman (Curtis Lange) says…
Multidisciplinary: You buyin'? :) lol
KansasPerson (anonymous) says…
"The new store - which would be on the northwest corner of the intersection - will include a drive-through lane. The store will be housed in a new 2,400-square-foot building that will replace the current building on the corner, which used to house a medical supply and equipment store."I'm confused -- I thought the only medical supply store was at Sixth and Maine. I think I'm gonna have to drive by there to figure this out.I haven't been to DD on 23rd since they remodeled -- I know, a million years ago -- but I really liked it then. Kind of old-timey, with the semicircular counter. I imagine it looks a lot more up-to-date now. I liked the folks running it, too.
been_there (anonymous) says…
If they opened one in KC, then nobody would pay commuters from Lawrence to bring donuts to work. It always made us a celebrity. I don't like Krispy Creme and every store and gas station sells them.
ranger73 (anonymous) says…
There is a different med supply store at 6th & Maine-that is on the Northeast corner. The dump that DD will replace is caddy corner from the local McDonalds franchise offices, and across the street from the payday loan place and Anderson Rentals. Yeah for a DD on this side of town!BTW Logic-Red Lobster tried to come in several years ago where Aldi now sits. The city did what ever they could to not let them build here so they said forget it. Probably still bad feelings from that-Don't think Olive Garden will pull the string either.A nice buffet style place to take the kids would be a good addition though. Ryans, Golden Corral-Not the best quality of food but a lot and cheap!
dontcallmedan (anonymous) says…
Waffle House-are you kidding? They should be forced by law to drop the "W".
Buggie7 (anonymous) says…
Bring back carol lees or lamars !!!!!
eel (anonymous) says…
How about a Furrs, been missing it---still haven't gone to the new drug store where it sat
KUweatherman (Curtis Lange) says…
KansasPerson, I thought the same at first...until I Google Map Street Viewed it, lol. Then the light bulb went on; especially since I would drive by it everyday to and from work when North Iowa was closed. Someone that drives by it now, are the weeds still growing all over the place? Does it still look like someone got hungry and took a bite out of the sign on the corner?
superduper (anonymous) says…
I really wanted to open a Braums out west. No ice cream out there but I think they are all company stores. They don't franchise.
ranger73 (anonymous) says…
Dam skippy OTR-Rather die fat and happy than living for ever eating manufactured sawdust that is "healthy" but tastes like mulch.Bring on the donuts!
Xwards (anonymous) says…
Braums is out of Oklahoma City. Lawrence is too far away for them to maintain their quality and adequately service the location. But I do have to admit that they have good burgers, fries, and ice cream.
wacipimo (anonymous) says…
We need a Dicks sporting goods store!!!
lubyloo (anonymous) says…
I love Braums. Their butter pecan ice cream is out of this world. If there was a Braums in this town, I would be seriously dangerous. Anyone remember Amigos, which was on 23rd street near McDonalds and Ace Hardware in that teeny tiny building? I think there is a Japanese place there now. It is interesting that Lawrence has so many restaurants that are based in Nebraska -- Runza is here, so is Godfather's Pizza. Amigos was the best though. Oh well. I wish this town had a Banana Republic, an Ann Taylor, and a Lowes. But that will probably never happen.
persevering_gal (anonymous) says…
Better yet, bring back Uno's!!!
I_Bejewel (anonymous) says…
"What is being done on the land in front of the Legends apartments on Clinton Pkwy?"I thought I heard they were building a Walgreen's there, but there seems like enough land there for more than just that. Don't know.
Calliope877 (anonymous) says…
That's cool!And I'm sure all the cops in the downtown area will be very happy! :)
bearded_gnome (anonymous) says…
Church's Chicken!c'mon in! put one in north lawrence! one out east on 23rd, and maybe south iowa! KFC just isn't what it used to be, the Colonel would be spitting mad if he saw what they serve now! and, how about a Der Wienerschnitzel!, first one in kansas, put it there on w 6th, perfect.
leadstone (anonymous) says…
It's nice to see DD's still holding up and not selling out to serve lackluster wares and worse service. "Dimple Donuts" took all the joy out of eating a donut...and that takes a LOT. Oh, and I miss Bonanza, and Shoney's breakfast buffet. Mmmmm, almost breakfastime, so hurry up and rebuild.
witchfindergeneral (anonymous) says…
Donut rain on this sugary parade, Dunkin' haters.