Dunkin Donuts
MJ
Home Depot in North Kingstown. I'm guessing that's in theme with their
starting to add shops in Home Depots across the country. Apparently
they've concluded that their client base of the tradesmen is up their
with cable men and the police. This will place DDs 1 mile north and
another about 1 mile south of Allies donuts. Along this line, I've
always been amused that there are about 4 donut places within a mile or
so of the Cox cable building in Cranston, off I-295. Next I suppose
they'll be adding franchises in police stations.
I really don't understand why anyone would go to a DD when Allies is so
close, but it hasn't seemed to affected the one north of Allies. In
fact, they recently added a Bess Eaten next to that DD. I was a fan of
DD back maybe 10+ years ago, but looking back I guess I gradually lost
all interest as they stopped selling fresh donuts. Today, they don't
seem much better than the prepackaged Hostess donuts (not that I'd eat
one of them more than once a year). Anyone know when DD stopped making
fresh donuts? I'm guessing they are probably shipped in from some
factory in MA.
Eric Scantlebury
"MJ" <mja...@cox.net> wrote in message news:3D6E822E...@cox.net...
Try down where I live. Exit 3 off 95 in Wyoming. There are two Bess Eaton
donuts within 1/4 mile of each other on rt138 and a DD next door to one of
them. I've often wondered how 3 donut shops can survive in a small town
like Wyoming all within a 1/4 mile of each other.
Heidi
> I really don't understand why anyone would go to a DD when Allies is so
> close, but it hasn't seemed to affected the one north of Allies
People don't usually go to DD for donuts. In fact, only 10% of DD's sales
come from donuts. Most of their profits come from coffee, and if I remember
correctly, bagels and muffins are also good sellers. Does Allie's have a
drive through? I bet the convenience of the drive through also adds to the
appeal of DD.
- Heidi (who attended meetings to stop a DD from being built on Gano Street
a few years ago while living in Fox Point. The Fox Point Citizens Group was
unsuccessful and the DD was built anyway. Don't you just love big
business?)
Owen Hartnett
"Eric Scantlebury" <esca...@rida.net> wrote:
Donut shops can do good business off a major highway like 95. And
several shops will "pull" more of the same business into the area.
I remember working for McDonald's in my college years when a Burger King
opened up down the street. They weren't worried at all because their
studies had shown a net increase in the whole market by having more fast
food restaurants in the same area. So they felt it was good for them.
-Owen
--
To reply via email, remove the three x's.
Mitch Berkson
news:akm30m$e18$1...@saturn.services.brown.edu...
>
> - Heidi (who attended meetings to stop a DD from being built on Gano
Street
> a few years ago while living in Fox Point. The Fox Point Citizens Group
was
> unsuccessful and the DD was built anyway. Don't you just love big
> business?)
Now that it's there have their fears (what were they?) materialized?
Mitch Berkson
MJ
Eric Scantlebury wrote:
Reminds me of when I lived in Charlotte and there were Waffle Houses on both
sides of many interstate exits. That did, however, make some sense in that
they were all uniform in size where instead of expanding an existing place,
they would simply build another to take on the extra seating requirements.
But multiple donut places. Well - this is RI - the state with the nation's
highest per capita Dunking Donut locations.
JETman
Some bean counter probably realized that they could squeeze another 2¢
profit for every dollar of revenue.
The discontinuance of the "made fresh" donuts removed a major selling
point and reduced DD to the likes of all other mass produced fast food.
There used to be a half dozen full service DD shops in Austin, now there
are none...
--
Regards,
JT (Residing in Austin, Texas)
Just Tooling Down The Internet Superhighway With my G4.......
Heidi
> > - Heidi (who attended meetings to stop a DD from being built on Gano
> Street
> > a few years ago while living in Fox Point. The Fox Point Citizens Group
> was
> > unsuccessful and the DD was built anyway. Don't you just love big
> > business?)
>
> Now that it's there have their fears (what were they?) materialized?
>
> Mitch Berkson
Good question. Shortly after the DD opened, we moved to Smithfield, so I
haven't attended any more citizens group meetings or spoken with anyone
about the DD. I did hear, however, that right after the DD opened, people
were double parking on Gano St. as they ran in to get coffee. I'm not sure
if this is still a problem.
People were worried about increased traffic on Gano St. (which is already
too congested), a loud speaker at the drive through which would disturb
nearby residents, and the thought that a chain store like DD would put the
locally owned coffee shops in the area out of business.
- Heidi
tomk
Dunkin Donuts had a serious decline in customers...the gay ones.
no more "after-church, let-me-buy-a-dozen-and-take-10-minutes-even-
though-the-donuts-haven't-changed-in-40-years, and-i-have-a-coupon-
people"
i like the "30sec gimme a decent coffee and muffin/bagel"
ever since this stategy they doubled their stores and profits.
i live in woonsocket: home to 6 DDs and no major highway and only 9sq mi.
"JETman" <jeta...@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:3D6EB8C5...@worldnet.att.net...
tomk
MJ
tomk wrote:
> yeah, ever since they stopped making fresh donut(whatever that means)
> Dunkin Donuts had a serious decline in customers...the gay ones.
> no more "after-church, let-me-buy-a-dozen-and-take-10-minutes-even-
> though-the-donuts-haven't-changed-in-40-years, and-i-have-a-coupon-
> people"
>
> i like the "30sec gimme a decent coffee and muffin/bagel"
> ever since this stategy they doubled their stores and profits.
>
> i live in woonsocket: home to 6 DDs and no major highway and only 9sq mi.
>
Of course, proving a fresh product is one reason Krispy Kreme gives DD so much
competition wherever they compete (frequently driving them out). I heard today
that KK profits are up 50% over last year. I personally find their donuts way
too sugary, but they are quite successful. Then again, maybe people just don't
go to DD much anymore for the donuts, as several have mentioned. Apparently
they have outlived their name.
Blarg
>Reminds me of when I lived in Charlotte and there were Waffle Houses on both
>sides of many interstate exits. That did, however, make some sense in that
>they were all uniform in size where instead of expanding an existing place,
>they would simply build another to take on the extra seating requirements.
Wasn't the idea behind Waffle House that you could stand on the roof of one of
them and see the sign for at least one more? I seem to remember that..
There's an excellent Waffle House in Hagerstown, MD. I try to get there
whenever I'm driving through.
Cheers,
Blarg
...I only wish we had them here in RI/MA...
MJ
Blarg wrote:
Waffle House definitely serves excellent country ham, but I much prefer the
typical NE style home fries vs. their hash browns and coffee from a ceramic mug.
I also much prefer the typical NE diner (Modern in Pawtucket, Jiggers in East
Greenwich, Middle of No Place in Exeter and to some degree the Beacon and Snoopy's
in North Kingstown), but the Waffle House is far superior to other chains with
respect to breakfast.
Any suggestions for other breakfast places in or near RI? IMO, Al Macs in Fall
River and Shawmut in New New Bedford are ok - probably in line with Snoopys and
Beacon. Two other's I've been to include one on rt 6 near the library in New
Bedford and one along Rt 6 in Somerset near the Salvation Army, but their names
currently escape me.
There's also a place in Portsmouth that we once stooped at that had the best berry
pancakes (raspberry, blueberry and blackberry combination), but my vote for
pancakes is probably Jiggers, followed very closely by Modern and Middle of No
Place. I'd rank Middle of No Place first for pancake, but they don't serve real
maple syrup.
Why anyone would stop at a Bickfords or Friendlys for breakfast totally escapes
me.
MJ
Rocker wrote:
> "MJ" <mja...@cox.net> wrote in message news:3D6F5A68...@cox.net...
> That's the "Middle of Nowhere"... :)
>
> Rocker
Oh yea - well I was close...
Rocker
"MJ" <mja...@cox.net> wrote in message news:3D6F5A68...@cox.net...
That's the "Midde of Nowhere"... :)
Rocker
Owen Hartnett
> Why anyone would stop at a Bickfords or Friendlys for breakfast totally
> escapes
> me.
>
>
I must confess to a certain weakness for Bickford's Baby Apple Pancake.
However, some Bickford's are better than others.
Michael Zarlenga
BB
when you're hungry......
BB
Laury
"MJ" <mja...@cox.net> wrote in message news:3D6F5A68...@cox.net...
>
> Any suggestions for other breakfast places in or near RI? IMO, Al Macs in
Fall
> River and Shawmut in New New Bedford are ok - probably in line with Snoopys
and
> Beacon. Two other's I've been to include one on rt 6 near the library in
New
> Bedford and one along Rt 6 in Somerset near the Salvation Army, but their
names
> currently escape me.
T's on Park Ave in Cranston is good. Also Wiley's in
Middlebridge is good and scenic. A Slice of Heaven
in Jamestown has a version of French toast to die for.
T's and A Slice of Heaven are both smoke-free. I don't
know if Wiley's is or not.
The last time I went to Bickford's, on Reservoir Av in
Cranston, it smelled like an old, overflowing ashtray,
and so did we when we left. We'll never eat there again.
Laury
MJ
Laury wrote:
And I forgot (temporarily, I'm hopping) about Cindy's in Johnston - not all that
special, but about the cheapest I've seen and a place around the corner on rt 6
(a few miles west) called something the the Farmer's Daughter (not really a
diner, but called something like that).
BetzBet
>(a few miles west) called something the the Farmer's Daughter (not really a
>diner, but called something like
That would be The Gentleman Farmer.
One of the best places I have found for a great salad.
I also like Rigatoni's in Warwick for a great salad.
-Just-Betz-
Carol Cohen
> However, some Bickford's are better than others.
>
> -Owen
Bickford's was great for my fueling stop (55-mile mark) on my bike
ride from Newton MA to Little Compton RI. Except they fortunately
gave me the senior discount, unfortunately before I asked for it. :(
MJ
Carol Cohen wrote:
That's always a downer. When I started qualifying for the over 50 discount
at Comfort Inns, I was always taken back when they never checked for an ID.
I always thought that would be a great marketing move - checking everyone for
their senior status.
Aero4ce1
care for Dunkin coffee, it tastes burned to me.
JETman
Is Rigatoni's a chain?
BetzBet
>>
>> -Just-Betz-
>
>
>Is Rigatoni's a chain?
No, I don't believe it is.
-Just-Betz-
JETman
Sorta a semi fancy joint that just opened in the wrong part of town. I
guess that they did not research the potential market well enough...
--
Mary RI
> Rocker wrote:
> > That's the "Middle of Nowhere"... :)
> >
> > Rocker
>
> Oh yea - well I was close...
The Middle of Nowhere Diner on Rte. 3 (Coventry? Not sure) is a nice
little diner for breakfast and for fish and chips.
BTW, the is another Gentleman Farmer close to there, on the opposite
side of the road. Having been to the other two Gentleman Farmer
locations on many occasions, I'm wondering how anyone has found the
Rte. 3 location to be in terms of food and service.
My favorite breakfast place was The Breakfast Nook in North Kingstown,
but I hated the cigarette smoke. They have several locations now, five
in all, I think, under the names of Nook II and Scramblers. At least
one Scramblers is smoke-free. All of these places have the same food
for the same price, AFAIK, as they are a local chain now. My
favorite, though not inexpensive, is the Nook's Delight Omelet for 2.
At one place (formerly the site of DD in East Greenwich) we were
served the most wonderful Nook's Delight. We were there at the tail
end of breakfast time so I think the cook threw in leftover
everything. OMG! The thing stuck out over the ends of the platter
it's served on and the waitress had to hold it with two hands. AS she
set it down between us she said, "Be afraid. Be very afraid." (She
was refering to it's massive size.) We had leftovers that served as
lunch. Normally it will fill up two pretty big guys; this one could
sate a small family of 4. ;-) YUMMMY. A Delight is an omelet with
just about everything in it that you would put into an omelet: many
fresh vegies, breakfast meats, and cheese.
Mary (RI)
Mary RI
> Why anyone would stop at a Bickfords or Friendlys for breakfast totally escapes
> me.
Not all Bickford's are the same: even though they are a chain and the
menu might be the same, the staff, the hours of business, and the
atmosphere can vary greatly. The Bickfords on Jefferson Blvd is
pretty popular, as is the one on the corner of Post and Airport Roads
in Warwick. However, the latter can't compare in quality or price to
McManus as I remember it. Still, they are a good place to go for
breakfast and munchies just about any time of the day or night. I'm
pretty sure they still get an after-hours bar crowd like McManus did.
Nothing at Friendly's has ever impressed me much.
Mary (RI)
Mary RI
> People don't usually go to DD for donuts. In fact, only 10% of DD's sales
> come from donuts. Most of their profits come from coffee, and if I remember
> correctly, bagels and muffins are also good sellers. Does Allie's have a
> drive through? I bet the convenience of the drive through also adds to the
> appeal of DD.
I agree. It's the coffee and the convenience of the drive-through.
> - Heidi (who attended meetings to stop a DD from being built on Gano Street
> a few years ago while living in Fox Point. The Fox Point Citizens Group was
> unsuccessful and the DD was built anyway. Don't you just love big
> business?)
I just love DD coffee and would have embraced the idea of one close by
if I lived there. I have been by that one many times at night and
have gone in. It hardly had any business any of the times I was
there. My theory is because it *doesn't* have a drive-through and the
neighborhood is not all that well-lit. Who wants to park and walk in a
dark parking lot in an area they don't know? A well-planned drive-up
window with enough room for cars to wrap around the parking lot would
minimize traffic snarls.
In a subsequent post I think you mention that people were concerned
about noise from the drive-through PA system. That made me laugh
because they are so hard to hear, from a frequent buyer's point of
view. Besides, DD wait persons hardly say a thing. Most don't repeat
your order, tell you how much it will cost, or even ask you to drive
up. You're lucky if you get some sort of "zat it?" response from them
that's barely audible. <S> But if they're fast and accurate, they are
worth their weight in gold (to the serious caffeine addict in a hurry,
that is). :-)
Mary (RI)
Mary RI
> I know Allies donuts blow away Dunkins but how is their coffee? I don't really
> care for Dunkin coffee, it tastes burned to me.
If your DD coffee tastes burned, they probably left it on the burner
too long. Ask for a FRESH cup. I've had to return some cups of old
coffee and ask for fresh; the old stuff gives me a stomach ache on top
of its bitter taste. Yuck. I *think* they are supposed to leave it on
the burner for no more than 12 minutes.
Have you tried their iced coffee? Does that taste burned?
Mary (RI)
Carol Cohen
>
> Not all Bickford's are the same
> Still, they are a good place to go for
> breakfast and munchies just about any time of the day or night. I'm
> pretty sure they still get an after-hours bar crowd like McManus did.
> Mary (RI)
The late-night bar crowd must've been there the night before I visited
Bickford's: several repro landscape paintings looked strange, until I
figured out they were hung upside down. Waitress attributed it to
post-midnight customers' frolicking.
C.C.