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Dunkin' Donuts — now just
Dunkin'
— revealed its plans for its "store of the future" experience in early September, starting with a
name change
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that rolled out to about 50 stores earlier this year.
But the name change is only the beginning for Dunkin'. The Massachusetts-based coffee empire is undergoing a major rebrand that includes a new store design, new drinks like nitro-infused cold brew, and digital-ordering kiosks. The rebrand also includes a focus on its new espresso , which required the installation of brand-new espresso machines at every store possible and conducting four- to five-hour training sessions for store managers nationwide.
The first Dunkin' store to be rebranded is located in Quincy, Massachusetts, which is less than a five-minute drive from the original Dunkin' Donuts, which opened in 1950. The Quincy store has the new espresso machines, a mobile-order pickup station, a front-facing bakery case, an expanded grab-and-go selection, and a unique, two-lane drive-thru that caters to mobile orders.
Even though the original Dunkin' Donuts has been remodeled in the years since it opened, it lacks most of the upgrades that the store of the future has.
The original Dunkin' and the brand-new store of the future are owned by the same franchisees, Victor and Octavio Carvalho. The second-generation franchisees told reporters earlier this month that Dunkin's rebranding efforts and focus on espresso is the "right thing to do."
"The commitment is worth it in the long run," Victor Carvalho said.
Here's how the store of the future compares to the original Dunkin' Donuts:
The original Dunkin Donuts opened in 1950 in Quincy, Massachusetts.
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Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
The inside of the store is pretty small. It looks like your typical Dunkin Donuts.
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Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
There are a few elements inside that are part of the rebrand, like the forward-facing bakery case.
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Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
But a lot of the food is still kept on shelves behind the counter.
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Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
The original stores menus were recently upgraded to the digital menu boards that most other Dunkin stores have.
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Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
And it has the new espresso machines set up, though theyre hard to see behind the counter.
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Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
The grab-and-go section is pretty small. Its mostly cold drinks, and there isnt a lot of food to choose from.
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Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
The original Dunkin has a pick-up area for mobile and in-store orders. There isnt anything designated for mobile orders specifically.
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Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
There are only two small tables in the back of the store. Hanging on the wall are framed photos and documents from when the store first opened, before it was remodeled to look like most other Dunkins.
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Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
The store of the future, just a few minutes away from the original store, looks drastically different on the outside.
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Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
The store itself is much bigger and brighter than the original store. It has a more modern feel to it.
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Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
And there is a lot more seating.
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Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
The store of the future uses only the front-facing bakery cases, instead of leaving some food behind the counter.
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Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
Nothing used to prepare food is hidden from view at this Dunkin. It also has the new espresso machines ...
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Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
... and cold-brew taps.
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Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
The store of the future has a designated mobile-order pickup area ...
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Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
... and a separate mobile-order drive-thru lane.
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Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
The grab-and-go selection is more than double the size of the one at the original store.
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Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
The original Dunkin has nostalgic elements like the signage and photos, and its clear how drastically different it is from Dunkins store of the future down the road.
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Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
The store of the future was bigger, brighter, and more high-tech than the original, which felt like any other Dunkin store.
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Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
See Also:
SEE ALSO: Dunkin' execs reveal why they want customers to 'order through a robot' in the near future