5 Dunkin’ Donuts stores to open on the Central Coast
New franchise owners have announced plans to open five Dunkin’ Donuts outlets in San Luis Obispo and Northern Santa Barbara Counties.
The franchise owners, Glen and Kirsten Tharp of Coastal Foods Group Inc. and partner Payman Khania, don’t have definite locations yet for the stores but hope to open them all as soon as possible. They have nearly secured their first space in Santa Maria, Kirsten Tharp said, and she anticipates opening that store at the end of this year or in early 2017.
Tharp anticipates hiring a staff of 20 to 24 at each store, a mix of full- and part-time employees. The plan is to have drive-through services at as many of the stores as possible, she said.
The Dunkin’ Donuts chain sells 52 varieties of doughnuts along with coffee, bagels, breakfast sandwiches and other baked goods, according to its website.
The five new restaurants are part of multi-unit store development agreements with four franchise groups for a total commitment of 29 new Dunkin’ Donuts stores throughout California over the next several years, according to a company news release.
The initial investment of opening a franchise ranges from $109,700 to $1,637,700, according to Patrick Cunningham, senior director of franchising at Dunkin’ Brands, Inc. The company has a franchise fee of $40,000 to $90,000 depending on the market.
There are more than 11,300 Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants worldwide, according to the company’s website. Bill Rosenberg opened the first store in Quincy, Massachusetts in 1950, the first franchise was licensed in 1955.
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This story was originally published April 11, 2016 at 4:45 PM with the headline "5 Dunkin’ Donuts stores to open on the Central Coast."