Inside the new uptown Dunkin' Donuts
Another sign of the growing influence of natives from the Northeastern U.S. around here is the proliferation of Dunkin’ Donuts shops in the Charlotte region.
I wrote about the trend recently in the Observer's business section (click here to see it).
This week, I checked out the newest local shop in uptown Charlotte at 231 N. Graham St., which opened to the public on Tuesday. It’s next to the CVS drugstore and Charlotte Cotton Mills.
It’s one of three Dunkin’ Donuts set to open inside the I-277 loop uptown within three years. The second is scheduled to open near Bobcats Arena on Trade Street in May; the location of the third hasn’t yet been determined.
It’s Charlotte’s first two-story Dunkin’ store, and the layout works. You can order downstairs and leave quickly if you need to, or go upstairs if you want to linger in a coffeeshop-style setting, with a flatscreen TV, comfy furniture and great views of the uptown skyline. I spotted a lively business meeting underway at one of the tables.
Everyone, including the employees, seemed to be having fun, and employees said business has been heavy since doors opened.
I grew up here in Charlotte on Krispy Kreme Doughnuts - they’ve always been popular here since we’re so near the company’s Winston-Salem headquarters. But we’ve had so many transplants move here from near the Massachusetts base of Dunkin’ Donuts, they’re keeping the Krispy Kreme rival thriving.
I’ve found that people from the Northeast can be very loyal to their Dunkin’ Donuts. So as they keep moving here, expect to see more Charlotte shops in the future.
I wrote about the trend recently in the Observer's business section (click here to see it).
This week, I checked out the newest local shop in uptown Charlotte at 231 N. Graham St., which opened to the public on Tuesday. It’s next to the CVS drugstore and Charlotte Cotton Mills.
It’s one of three Dunkin’ Donuts set to open inside the I-277 loop uptown within three years. The second is scheduled to open near Bobcats Arena on Trade Street in May; the location of the third hasn’t yet been determined.
It’s Charlotte’s first two-story Dunkin’ store, and the layout works. You can order downstairs and leave quickly if you need to, or go upstairs if you want to linger in a coffeeshop-style setting, with a flatscreen TV, comfy furniture and great views of the uptown skyline. I spotted a lively business meeting underway at one of the tables.
Everyone, including the employees, seemed to be having fun, and employees said business has been heavy since doors opened.
I grew up here in Charlotte on Krispy Kreme Doughnuts - they’ve always been popular here since we’re so near the company’s Winston-Salem headquarters. But we’ve had so many transplants move here from near the Massachusetts base of Dunkin’ Donuts, they’re keeping the Krispy Kreme rival thriving.
I’ve found that people from the Northeast can be very loyal to their Dunkin’ Donuts. So as they keep moving here, expect to see more Charlotte shops in the future.
posted by Leigh at
10:44 AM
20 Comments:
As Northerners are loyal to DD, I as a Charlotte native remain loyal to the Krispy Kreme I grew up with. When can we expect a KK uptown? Ms. Dyer, did you ever frequent the KK that used to be on the corner of Independence and Hawthorne?
I'm originially from RI, and there are, according to the Dunkin Donuts website, 65 locations within a 10 mile radius of where I grew up. 65! I'm still getting used to driving more than 2 minutes to get to one, but I'll always crave that smooth caffinated comfort from home. The more Dunkin Donuts the better!
(I am sorry for being obnoxiously northern, I promise you this is one of the only things I hold on to.)
I'm from Charlotte, originally, and I don't have any particular affinity for any donut shop over the other, but my (yankee) girlfriend loves Dunkin Donuts. Personally, I think their coffee tastes like cigarette ashes. Maybe it's just me (she says that DD in NC is nowhere near as good as DD in the frozen tundra-I didn't notice any difference though when I visited...)
I can't stand Dunkin Donuts when compared to Krispy Kreme.
Yeah, when are there going to be more KK's in Charlotte?
Love love DD!!!! However, a Krispy Kreme shop would be perfect next to the new Quizno's across from the new Court House on 4th Street.
I'm glad DD is downtown. However, a variety of eateries are needed along E. Trade and N. Tryon Streets as well. Downtown Charlotte is very bland. A street-level location for KK, Popeye's Chicken, Blimpie, Manhattan Bagel, Pizza Hut & McDonald's Express, Olive Garden, Red Lobster would add flavor and help downtown to look like a real city.
Born & raised in the south but can't stand KK!
I've always preferred DD; good thing there are more shops around.
Don't forget the one on S. Kings near Baxter.
Are you all ignorant ? Do you just not know ? Or do you just not care ?
Hydrogenated oils people. Google it. You will be amazed aout just how bad it is. Dunkin and Krispy are both LOADED with the bad stuff.
It's so bad that most countries banned its use decades ago.
It is a known Cancer causer. NYC and Chicago are no totally banning it in all restaurants, fast food joints, bakeries and so on.
Comon' people, do you really expect Uncle Sam to protect your health ?
This information has been online for over ten years now.
Go on...........Google it.
There isn't a DD anywhere nearby on my way to work. On the weekends I got about 5 miles out of my way to get a cup. I used to go twice a day back home.
I love DD. Best coffee for the money around. I like an 'extra, extra' with an old fashioned for breakfast.
Maybe when Krispy Kreme gets its act together they might open some more stores. Even in Winston-Salem there don't seem to be that many. I do like their hot glazed donuts but, I still prefer a Dunkin Donut.
I also can't believe someone had to ruin the blog with the hydrogenated oils comment. If you don't want to eat donuts then don't eat them.
Just trying to inform anyone that may be interested in a serious health issue. I'm not out front picketing.
Keep walking the blind walk. Enjoy !
We can send a PMS LADY to space but we cant make a doughnut without MOTOR OIL in it , amazing; I love both products and by proof of my protruding belly I really dont care about YMCA , but I do like DD and KK ; I heard Charlotte may get MADAME TUSADES wax museum downtown next HEAVY MAN HEAVY WHATS next a SMITHSONIAN OH no I cant take it any more
Oh WOW a DUNKIN DOUGHNUTS downtown will we need to expand the streets here or add a parking tower HAHAHHA I am from OHIO and cant wait for a SKYLINE CHILI to come here; CINncinatti chilli right here in the SOUTH can Ohioians imagine. Wow they will call CHARLOTTE the new SHANGHAI of the US
I have to complement the new D&D uptown. It is a really well-designed store with excellent service and pro-active management. I know it's just a chain store, but it's been a long time since I've been as happy with a new restaurant. It has the feel of a local donut shop.
"A street-level location for KK, Popeye's Chicken, Blimpie, Manhattan Bagel, Pizza Hut & McDonald's Express, Olive Garden, Red Lobster would add flavor and help downtown to look like a real city."
Ummm, not sure what real city you're referring too, but I don't think we want Charlotte to become another fast food restaurant every 2 feet - generic chain restaurant -overweight city. If we had to add a DD in Uptown, at least they tried to make it a little different than the other DD's in Charlotte.
I agree with anonymous about keeping the number of fast food joints from going overboard -- no city is famed for the number of McDonald's in its city limits.
Fast food every block ?
Just how BIG is your ass anyway ?
Hey-trans fat stormtrooper: Dunkin' Donuts' sales are almost 70% COFFEE!
It's the Krispy Krackheads you want to be rounding up in your quest to dictate to people who are clearly inferior in every way to your superiority.
I lived in Charlotte for over 30 years and for over 30 years bemoaned the fact that the only donuts available were KK...I much prefer DD over KK. Now that I've moved "up north", Charlotte gets Dunkin! Just my luck. However I'm just minutes away from several DDs here. KK is also available here and I can not believe the number of northerners who prefer them. To each his own, but I'll always chose Dunkin Donuts...have you tried their "Everything Bagel"? It's sublime! And the coffee is great!
The migration of styrene from a polystyrene cup into the beverage it contains has been observed to be as high as 0.025% for a single use. That may seem like a rather low number, until you work it this way: If you drink beverages from polystyrene cups four times a day for three years, you may have consumed about one foam cup's worth of styrene along with your beverages. Mmm.... chem-i-callyyyy...
Styrene migration into beverages that are higher in fat (like a bowl of three-cheese chili or tall cupful of Cream laden coffee will suck more of the styrene out of the polystyrene container than, say, water. Some compounds found in beverages, like alcohol or the acids in "tea with lemon," may also raise the styrene migration rate.
Just passing along some info. Don't shoot the messenger. We all have choices. Knowledge is power.
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