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Dunkin' Donuts plans to open second Lawrence store

Posted by Chad Lawhorn
November 13, 2008 at 10:39 a.m.

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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.

Comments

chargdup 8 years, 9 months ago

Awesome. Glad to hear about DD.

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KansasPerson 8 years, 9 months ago

"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.

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ranger73 8 years, 9 months ago

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!

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geniusmannumber1 8 years, 9 months ago

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.

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average 8 years, 9 months ago

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.

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Phil Minkin 8 years, 9 months ago

"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.

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wacipimo 8 years, 9 months ago

We need a Dicks sporting goods store!!!

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zettapixel 8 years, 9 months ago

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=HekDXD...

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Curtis Lange 8 years, 9 months ago

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.

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dontcallmedan 8 years, 9 months ago

Waffle House-are you kidding? They should be forced by law to drop the "W".

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Curtis Lange 8 years, 9 months ago

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?

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lnga0209 8 years, 9 months ago

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!!!!

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Steve Jacob 8 years, 9 months ago

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.

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lubyloo 8 years, 9 months ago

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.

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Kufan57 8 years, 9 months ago

Yipee, finally the corner will not be an eye sore!!! Shame on whomever let that corner look like a dump...

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Keith 8 years, 9 months ago

The site - which fronts 23rd Street - previously had been proposed for apartments. Have we finally reached a limit on apartment building?

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eel 8 years, 9 months ago

How about a Furrs, been missing it---still haven't gone to the new drug store where it sat

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unelectable 8 years, 9 months ago

Two words: Waffle House

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Buggie7 8 years, 9 months ago

Bring back carol lees or lamars !!!!!

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flux 8 years, 9 months ago

Sonny at dunkin donuts kicks ass!

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Curtis Lange 8 years, 9 months ago

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?

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Curtis Lange 8 years, 9 months ago

Multidisciplinary: You buyin'? :) lol

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lawrencechick 8 years, 9 months ago

Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Kufan57 8 years, 9 months ago

I think they should build a "Braums" in Lawrence...anyone eaten there??? Great Burgers...and yummy ice cream..

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Maddy Griffin 8 years, 9 months ago

can a grandma get a job there?

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Lars Larson 8 years, 9 months ago

The old O'Reilly's will be where Naughty But Nice will start up again.

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been_there 8 years, 9 months ago

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.

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LogicMan 8 years, 9 months ago

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.

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Curtis Lange 8 years, 9 months ago

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.

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ranger73 8 years, 9 months ago

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!

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Xwards 8 years, 9 months ago

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.

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salad 8 years, 9 months ago

ARRRRGGGG!!! How about a FIRST Dunkin Donuts in Kansas City!!!!

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persevering_gal 8 years, 9 months ago

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.

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superduper 8 years, 9 months ago

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.

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persevering_gal 8 years, 9 months ago

Better yet, bring back Uno's!!!

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Calliope877 8 years, 9 months ago

That's cool!And I'm sure all the cops in the downtown area will be very happy! :)

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I_Bejewel 8 years, 9 months ago

"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.

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leadstone 8 years, 9 months ago

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.

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bearded_gnome 8 years, 9 months ago

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.

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