Dunkin’ Donuts, America’s all-day, everyday stop for coffee and baked goods, announced the signing of a multistore development agreement with existing franchisees, Harry Patel and Parag Patel, to develop 18 new standalone restaurants in North Orange County and the Central Inland Empire. The first restaurant from their agreement is expected to open in 2015. New franchisees Jeff Shady and Jordon DiBiase will develop eight new standalone restaurants in the North Inland Empire, with their first restaurant also opening in 2015.
The Patels currently own 11 Dunkin’ Donuts/Baskin-Robbins combination units in Baltimore, Maryland, in addition to three Baskin-Robbins shops in Orange County, California. Most recently, the team was awarded the Combo Franchisee of the Year award by Dunkin’ Brands at the company’s annual franchisee and enterprise awards ceremony.
Shady and DiBiase are Little Caesar’s franchisees with five restaurants in New Mexico, Colorado, and Seattle. They also own Coastal Business Group Inc., a telecommunications company based in Irvine, California.
“We are delighted that Harry and Parag have chosen to grow with us in Southern California. They have been outstanding business partners for more than 25 years, and we look forward to the opening of their new restaurants in the years to come,” says Grant Benson, vice president of franchising and business development for Dunkin’ Brands. “We are also excited to welcome Jeff and Jordon to the Dunkin’ Donuts brand. Between their franchise and California business experience, we are confident they will cultivate lasting customer relationships, and become a wonderful addition to the North Island Empire community.”
Additionally, Embassy Suites San Diego has signed a franchising agreement with Dunkin’ Brands to open a Dunkin’ Donuts/Baskin-Robbins combination unit on the premises. The location is expected to open next year. In January, Dunkin’ Donuts began recruiting multiunit operators for Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, San Bernardino, Ventura, and Orange counties. The company announced in July it had executed its first development agreements in Southern California with four franchise groups totaling 45 new restaurants.
Dunkin’ Donuts offers franchisees a variety of design concepts including free-standing stores, end caps, in-line sites, kiosks and gas stations, as well as other retail environments. The company is also actively identifying franchisees to open a wide range of non-traditional venues, including colleges, universities, casinos, military bases, supermarkets, airports and travel centers.
Dunkin’ Donuts’ new look includes four distinct restaurant design options for franchisees, each featuring variations in layout, color schemes, graphics, textures, furniture, and lighting. The designs enhance the current restaurant appearance, environment, and layout to serve people all day long. Dunkin’ Donuts allows franchisees to select individual elements from any of the four options, creating a design that reflects their personal tastes and preferences, and best serves their specific restaurant size and location.
