Since moving from the East Coast several years ago, Bob Michaels sorely missed his favorite coffee chain — Dunkin’ Donuts.
So who can blame him for rushing the opening of a new Overland Park location? Michaels misread the sign on the door — “Closed. Grand opening Nov. 12” as “Closed Nov. 12”— and walked in on a test run last week.
But he’ll be back on Thursday.
“I’ve been waiting for it to open,” said Michaels of Olathe. “This isn’t Starbucks with 25 different coffees — just one really good coffee with really good cream.”
And, of course, the doughnuts to dunk in the coffee — 20 varieties plus specials called “fancies.” The store also will sell egg white turkey sausage flatbread sandwiches, English muffins and bagels, muffins, breakfast wraps, hash browns, and iced lattes and flavored coffees, and frozen blended drinks.
Dunkin’ Donuts, based in Canton, Mass., is one of the country’s largest retailers of coffee by the cup, serving nearly 1 billion cups of fresh brewed coffee annually. It was founded in 1950 and licensed its first franchise in 1955.
Even though it hasn’t served up a cup in Kansas City since the mid-1980s, there is still a loyal Dunkin’ Donut fan base here that includes transplants such as Michaels. Their closest options until Thursday? Lawrence and St. Joseph.
But the chain is coming back to the area in a big way.
Along with the new store at 7722 W. 151st St., Overland Park, area franchisee Verona Key LLC plans 14 more. It’s already submitted plans to open a location at 74th Street and Metcalf Avenue.
In addition, Dunkin’ Donuts is seeking franchisees — new or existing — to develop a minimum of five other shops in the Kansas City area in Blue Springs, Gladstone, Independence, and Liberty. The Dunkin’ Donuts development of Kansas City is part of a steady growth strategy to expand in existing markets while entering new cities. The company has more than 8,800 locations in 31 countries.
Verona Key, based in Prairie Village, is a partnership between Jennifer Benjamin, who has worked in the nonprofit field in Kansas City, and Kristin Rhyne McClure, a graduate of the Harvard Business School, who has owned businesses in several cities. The area residents both grew up on Dunkin’ Donuts on the East Coast and are friends. Benjamin’s sister also married McClure’s brother.
The women talked about a family venture for years. While fans of the Dunkin’ Donuts brand, they still researched the company and its resources, then talked to other franchisees.
“There weren’t the challenges of some other brands. It’s well-known, well-established,” Benjamin said. “It is a great brand, great product, with a great following in Kansas City.”
While the partners split some duties, they also play to each other’s strengths — with McClure, the chief operating officer and chief financial officer, and Benjamin, president, concentrating on store operations and marketing, including Twitter posts.
But it’s been a challenge being away from family for Dunkin Donuts’ extensive training program, as long as seven weeks away in Chicago, Dallas and some smaller towns. Benjamin is the mother of a 4-year-old and 9-year-old. McClure has a 10-year-old, a 2-year-old and another on the way.
Training has continued locally with test runs for the 45 or so employees over the last two weeks.
“To be prepared is only fair to your team,” Benjamin said. “I’m excited to get feedback from customers and see all the brand enthusiasts and advocates who have been Tweeting and reaching out to us. It’s the culmination of a lot of work.”
Where: 7722 W. 151st St., Overland Park
Grand opening: Doors open at 5 a.m. Thursday. George Brett kicks off a food drive for Harvesters The Community Food Network at 7 a.m. Ribbon cutting at 9 a.m.
Hours: 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily
To reach Joyce Smith, call 816-234-4692 or send e-mail to jsmith@kcstar.com.
@Nyx.CommentBody@