People walk past a coming soon sign on the future Dunkin’ Donuts storefront in Storrs Center. Dunkin’ Donuts will open a new location in Storrs Center by 2016 to “alleviate the pressure” on the Student Union location, said Dunkin Donuts’ franchisee, Derek Pacheco. (Amar Batra/The Daily Campus)
Every morning hundreds of weary-eyed students stand in line at the Student Union as they wait for a cup of Dunkin’ Donuts coffee. This long line may soon be a thing of the past.
Dunkin’ Donuts will open a new location in Storrs Center by 2016 to “alleviate the pressure” on the Student Union location, said Dunkin Donuts’ franchisee Derek Pacheco.
“It is just too busy,” said Pacheco, “(That shop) just can’t handle all of the traffic it gets.”
This new shop will neighbor Bruegger’s Bagels and Jamba Juice on Storrs Road. Pacheco is confident that he will do well in Storrs Center.
“We think this is a great area to open another (Dunkin’ Donuts),” said Pacheco, “We’ve been extremely successful in the Student Union and we’re excited to expand.”
The chain of doughnut shops has become a staple in New England. Pacheco owns four Dunkin’ Donuts in Storrs alone.
“We’ve been adding on as the college continues to add on,” said Pacheco, “It’s a growing brand. We’ve been lucky.”
Several residents of the Oaks on the Square said they were excited about the new Dunkin’ Donuts.
“I am glad that Dunkin’ is opening another store,” said Jessica Stargardter, 7th-semester education major and resident of the Oaks. “I simply don’t have enough time to go to the one in the Union with the long line.”
This Dunkin’ Donuts “meets a need in Storrs Center,” said CEO and Principal at Leyland Alliance – the real estate developer responsible for Storrs Center – Howard Kaufman.
“I have found that there are people who actually love their Dunkin’ Donuts coffee and doughnuts,” Kaufman said, “Coffee is one of those things that we cannot get enough of.”
Storrs Road already hosts two coffee shops in Dog Lane Café and Starbucks Coffee.
“Dog Lane Café sells a different product than us,” said Pacheco when asked if he is concerned with the competition, “Starbucks is so-so but I am not worried. We have loyal customers.”
“Dunkin’ Donuts provides a cheap alternative to Starbucks,” Stargardter said, “It’ll be nice to have options in Storrs Center.”
Kaufman said he and Leyland Alliance hope to make Storrs Center a regional center and the addition of Dunkin’ will help the development reach the “tipping point.”
“We been looking forward to watching this area develop for a few years. The addition of terrific companies will allow it to grow to its potential,” said Kaufman.
Jon Hull is a staff writer for The Daily Campus. He can be reached via email at jonathan.hull@uconn.edu.
