High Profile Dunkin’ Locations Closing Around Rhode Island

High Profile Dunkin’ Locations Closing Around Rhode Island

Three high profile Dunkin’s locations have recently closed around Rhode Island. 

The Dunkin’ brand has transformed over the past few years — dropping “Donuts” from the name in September 2018.

The locations in downtown Providence, Broadway in Newport, and Mineral Spring Avenue in North Providence are all high profile and long-term store locations.

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Before the coronavirus hit, the company announced hundreds of store closures.

Dunkin’ announced in February it plans to close 450 locations inside of Speedway convenience stores by the end of the year, saying it can better serve these markets with the company’s own stand-alone locations.

Dunkin' is not the only chain seeing change. Starbucks will close 400 stores in the United States and Canada while moving forward with concepts that will be an integration of the digital and physical customer experience, CEO Kevin Johnson said earlier this week.

Restaurants, coffee shops, and bars across the country have been hit by the downturn in the economy and impact of coronavirus closures.

 

Downtown Providence Store Location Lease

“We can confirm the locations at 78 Dorrance Street in Providence closed earlier this year, and the location 137 Broadway in Newport will close as of June 14. Both of these were planned closures due to lease expirations,” said Chris Raia, a spokesman for Dunkin’.

Joseph Paolino, the landlord of the downtown Providence location, confirmed that the lease had expired, but also told GoLocal that a highly visible location less than half a block away on Weybosset was offered as a replacement, but rejected. “We offered Dunkin’ [the 90 Weybossett] building on Peck street side.”

Now, Downtown Providence has “just” three locations.

This is another blow to downtown as the CVS closed in November of 2020.

 

Newport Store - Where Will Hank Lawler Go

The Broadway store location closure makes news on two fronts. Newport is losing one of its few Dunkin’ locations -- and a 30 plus year employee known throughout Newport, Hank Lawler, who will be displaced but will be offered a job at the Memorial Boulevard store.

 

Mineral Spring Avenue Closes

The third closure is on one of the state’s busiest streets.

“The only other Rhode Island closure this year was 1132 Mineral Spring Avenue in North Providence, which officially closed last week. This closure had been planned months in advance in line with the franchise owner's long-term strategic plan,” said Raia.

Raia said the company employees over 4,000 part-time and full-time workers. There are more than 175 Dunkin’ locations throughout the state.