Wednesday, July 30, 2014

From Vinyl to Dunkin'

Recently we saw the former Bleecker St. Records turn into a Starbucks. This week, the former Norman's Sound and Vision record shop has become a Dunkin' Donuts. Monday was their grand opening.



Located on Third Avenue between 7th and St. Mark's, Norman's closed in 2012. The rent was too damn high. "The landlords pushed us out here," said the owner in a video interview, referring to Williamsburg, where Norman's has since moved.

According to the Center for an Urban Future's 2013 "State of the Chains" report, Dunkin Donuts is New York's most plentiful:

"For the sixth consecutive year, Dunkin Donuts tops our list as the largest national retailer in New York City, with a total of 515 stores. Over the past year, Dunkin Donuts had a net increase of 39 stores in the city (an 8 percent gain)."

Add one more to the growing pile.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Their coffee is weak and their donuts are awful.
They are not even fresh donuts anymore. They are shipped frozen and then thawed and glazed locally.
But sheep still flock there.

BoFiS said...

Ugh, that's just what we need, more chain coffee/donut shops! How does Dunkin afford the absurd rents land lords ask for when kicking out existing (and usually better) tenants?? Or is it all a scam, they insist on some higher rent, remove the old business, and then give DD a better deal for no reason other than wanting to destroy the character of the bock further...

Unknown said...

First commenter is right, there is no reason other than desperation to go to a DD. Use Dunkin Donuts when your favorite legit bakery is closed, oh wait, they closed to make room for DD and Starbucks so now there is only desperation and dispair. Their donuts are like everything else in this world, not as good as they used to be, but thats not stopping their amazing reproductive growth. I now live in the burbs where they are a similar phenomenon. Funny how living in the burbs gives me the same experience as New York now, but at a fraction of the cost. When will New Yorkers wake up to that fact? Maybe they can mull that thought over a spiced apple tea at their favorite Dunkin Donuts, you know, the one down the block from the other DD which is across the street from the other one.

Anonymous said...

Are these operated a franchisee or by corporate? If one of these chain places is owned and operated by a local business person hoping this brand will be a success are they still evil ?

Anonymous said...

I just want to throw up now.

jason said...

DD places a whole bunch of requirements on prospective franchisees. One being a large amount of money in the bank. Not just net worth but actual money in the range of a half million. Anyone that can open a DD is not an average hard working Joe.