Ribbon-cutting today for Dayton area’s newest doughnut shop

The Dayton area’s sixth Dunkin’ Donuts shop will host a ribbon-cutting today, Thursday Nov. 3, at 1310 Woodman Drive just south of Linden Avenue in Riverside.

The Riverside Area Chamber of Commerce event will include Riverside city officials and representatives of the Dunkin’ Donuts Dayton-area franchisee and of the chamber of commerce’s executive board and membership, as well as a Dunkin’ Donuts costume character “Sprinkles,” according to a Dunkin’ Donuts spokeswoman. The event is free and open to the public.

The 1,880-square-foot doughnut shop employs 45 and offers drive-through as well as dine-in service.

The store opened to the public three weeks ago. It will be open for regular business today, but there are no special offers planned in conjunction with today’s ribbon-cutting.

“During the first month, we are working to make our employees as efficient as possible, so it is a little tricky doing special offers up front,” a spokeswoman for the local Dunkin’ Donuts franchisee said in an email. “We want our customers to have the best experience possible.”

This is the fifth Dayton-area location launched by franchise owner Pat Gilligan, who is responsible for reinvigorating the Dunkin’ Donuts brand in southwest Ohio. In less than three years, Gilligan has opened new Dunkin’ Donuts shops in Sugarcreek Twp., Springfield, Kettering, and Centerville.

Prior to Gilligan’s franchise deal, Dunkin’ Donuts’ once-robust presence in the Dayton area had shrunk to one location on Springboro Pike (Ohio 741) near the Dayton Mall, which operates under separate franchise ownership.

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Gilligan told this news outlet in February that he plans to open two Dunkin’ Donuts a year beyond this year in the Dayton region, in part because customer reaction to his first four Dayton-area shops has been strong. Plans for a Vandalia location fell through earlier this year after city officials there opposed the project. Gilligan also oversees Dunkin’ Donuts franchises in the Cincinnati area.

“We’ve had a great reaction, sales are good, and customers like the product and convenience,” he said.

There is no specific target number of locations or timetable to reach a certain number of stores.

“We don’t have a ceiling. We’ll just continue with our prudent expansion,” Gilligan said.

Each new Dunkin’ Donuts location represents about a $1 million investment not including the price of land, Gilligan said.

Historically a doughnut and coffee chain, Dunkin’ Donuts has expanded its offerings in recent years to include frozen and iced beverages as well as bagels, muffins, breakfast sandwiches, bakery sandwiches and wraps. For a limited time, the chain is offering pumpkin-flavored coffee, donuts and muffins.

The hours of the new Riverside Dunkin’ Donuts are Monday through Saturday 5 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

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