Two years after making a flashy return to Minnesota with a Rochester shop, Dunkin' Donutshas signed a franchise agreement to bring three more locations to the region.
The Massachusetts doughnut maker announced Thursday that it has signed a deal with new franchisees Oliver Schugeland David Schooffto open three new restaurants in Mankato. The first one is slated to open in 2017.
Mankato is leaping ahead of Rochester, which was expected to have about five locations by now.
Rochester Retail Services , a division of the Kahler Hospitality Group, opened a shop here in June 2014 at 15 First Ave. SW in its Kahler Grand Hotelcomplex in the heart of downtown. It was the first one in Minnesota since 2005. Dunkin' said then that Rochester Retail Services would be opening five more shops in the next few years.
That changed last fall , according to Dunkin' Donuts Senior Director of Franchising Patrick Cunningham.
ADVERTISEMENT
"Rochester Retail Services, the franchisee of record, will continue to own and operate the existing restaurant in the Kahler. However, they will not develop more Dunkin' stores as we previously reported," he said in October.
When announcing the coming Mankato shops, Dunkin' said franchise opportunities remain available in Rochester. Plus, "to help fuel additional growth in the market, special development incentives are available."
In Mankato, the new franchisees have more than 45 years of combined experience in business and real estate development.
"We have a passion and loyalty for the Dunkin' Donuts brand and look forward to opening our restaurants in the years to come," stated Schooff.
