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Customers strolling into Dunkin Donuts shops this summer might blink a few times before ordering a cup of coffee or doughnuts, as three locations in the Watertown area are getting makeovers to lend the stores a sleek, inviting look.
The shop at 20823 Arsenal St. closed for renovations at 1 p.m. Sunday and is slated to reopen at 5 p.m. Saturday. The location at 10720 Mount Belvedere Blvd. in Evans Mills will close at 1 p.m. July 8 and reopen at 5 a.m. July 15, while the shop at 1238 Washington St. will close at 1 p.m. July 29 and reopen at 1 p.m. Aug. 4.
By design, the projects will be completed swiftly to ensure loyal customers arent hung out to dry long, said Roy E. Clark of Fulton, who co-owns the three shops with Thomas Santurri and franchise President Edward Wolak. The shops were required by a 20-year franchise agreement to be cosmetically remodeled after 10 years, Mr. Clark said.
Each store will showcase a relaxing atmosphere with a sofa, club chairs, stainless-steel tables, an electric fireplace, a 42-inch flat-screen television and a relaxing color scheme with orange, brown and yellow furniture and wallpaper.
In other words, Dunkin Donuts will become an attractive spot for a first date.
The stores will have a softer and inviting look, Mr. Clark said, adding workers already have gutted the Arsenal Street location. The work is being done by Homeland Builders of Fall River, Mass., which completes projects for the franchise across the country.
Its amazing this place was gutted by Monday morning, he said. We obviously lose sales every day were down, so we want to make sure we take care of our customers by getting these projects done as quickly as possible.
Adding to the homey vibe, purple countertops will be replaced by either black or brown granite surfaces and the floors will have ceramic tiling. Additionally, a conference room will be built at the Evans Mills location, with space for eight to 10 people. Use of the room, which will require a reservation, will be free.
We had extra room at the store, so we wanted to have a place for meetings, he said. Anybody will be able to use it.
Mr. Clark said Dunkin Donuts customers who are waiting patiently for the stores to open will be pleased with the final results. Meanwhile, impatient customers who cant go without their coffee fix can travel to neighboring locations.
Thats why were doing the projects at different times, he said.