Fort Wayne, Ind. (July, 2008) – For 17 years, Kim and Gavin Hart have been in the business of providing what they call “comfort food,” operating six very successful ice cream shops in the area.
But on Wednesday, July 9, at 5 a.m., a new chapter will be written when the couple opens the first of what will be 20 new Dunkin’ Donuts stores they own and operate in the Fort Wayne market.
The first store, located at 8051 Coldwater Road, will open that morning and begin its celebration by giving away $5.00 gift cards to the first 50 customers. In addition, the 100th, 200th and 300th customers will win free coffee for a year.
At 11 a.m., the Harts will cut the ribbon officially opening the doors of their new restaurant, and donations will be presented to Jim Anderson, director of the Children’s Zoo, and a representative of Erin’s House. The local high school band will perform throughout the morning, and free food samples will be distributed.
“We’ve been looking for ways to grow our business for some time, and when we looked at the strength of the Dunkin’ Donuts brand and the economic advantages to our business and to the Fort Wayne economy, it quickly became the right choice for us,” said Gavin Hart.
Hart says they expect to create 500 jobs in the community with the addition of the 20 new stores, the second of which is scheduled to begin construction in late August. That new store will be located at 5767 St. Joe Road.
All the restaurants will feature a new design that provides a glimpse into how Dunkin’ Donuts envisions all of its restaurants in the future. The design, reminiscent of company roots that date over 57 years, is coupled with contemporary features to give Dunkin’ Donuts a new, modernized appearance. Highlights include an updated image featuring a new logo that contemporizes the current Dunkin’ Donuts logo, ceramic wall tile, upscale lighting and stylized seating. The new design concept is complemented by a new, innovative menu that moves Dunkin’ Donuts beyond breakfast and features such items as personal pizzas and flatbread sandwiches.
Kim and Gavin Hart live in Fort Wayne with their two daughters. Kim grew up in Fort Wayne; Gavin, in Indianapolis.
About Dunkin' DonutsFounded in 1950, today Dunkin' Donuts is the No. 1 retailer of hot and iced regular coffee-by-the-cup in America. The company sells 1.5 billion cups of coffee a year. Dunkin' Donuts is also the largest coffee and baked goods chain in the world. Dunkin' Donuts has more than 7,900 restaurants in 30 countries worldwide. In 2007, Dunkin' Donuts' global systemwide sales were $5.3 billion. Based in Canton, Massachusetts, Dunkin' Donuts is a subsidiary of Dunkin' Brands, Inc. For more information, visit
www.DunkinDonuts.com.