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South Enders gird for battle against new Dunkin' Donuts
By adamg on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 7:47am
South End Patch notes a proposed Dunkin' Donuts on Tremont Street (which would replace, gasp, a "modern furniture store") is "less than half a mile" from an existing Dunkin' Donuts.
Adam Castiglioni sees trouble brewing:
One wonders how the Dunkin Donuts proposal will fare after neighbor concerns have already caused the cancellation of redevelopment plans (that included new restaurants) for buildings at the corner of West Newton and Washington Streets and the corner of Washington Street and Worcester Square in the South End.
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Comments
America runs . . .
. . . on Dunkin! Dammit!
good luck to the neighbors
How anyone can drink that pink & orange plastic swill is beyond me... blech! Who needs another cookie-cutter, anywhere-USA chain store anyway.
Come on . . .
. . . Dunkin's is a good light morning coffee. Nothing wrong with it. And at least it is our "Anywhere USA chain store".
Dark Roast
Iced skim with 1 splenda, lgiht on the ice is delicious iced coffee too.
And it's priced cheap, and no hassle, like coffee should be.
"priced cheap"
Please explain how it's priced cheap.
Green Mountain at McDonald's is priced cheap (is it still $1? that's what the commercials used to say but I havent been to a McD's in about .... 20 years).
*Cheaper
Than an espresso house. But no, not the cheapest place.
I thought McDonald's served Newman's Own coffee
(no relation to me), not Green Mountain?
Newmans' Own/Green Mountain
It's co-branded if I remember correctly. The coffee contract is with Newman's Own, but they in turn partner with regional roasters. So in New England, Newman's Own is a special blend of Green Mountain. Elsewhere, it is something else.
SEZ YOU!...
...and, about 99% of the local population. Not me though, I think it sucks.
Not "anywhere USA"
America does not run on Dunkin. Not even close.
Thanks,Swirly
For the map link. I just sent 3 bags of Dunkin coffee to the 1SG whose review was listed on the page and I urge other UHub denizens to do the same.
I can't say how much my sister was thrilled when they opened a Dunkin in downtown Columbus, so I can imagine how our soldiers must feel!
It reads;
"Dear General Manager, I am 1SG Ruben Soto, the Company 1SG for A Co, 36th Infantry Division in Austin, Texas. I have over 160 soldiers in my Company and currently deployed in Basra Iraq. For Christmas, my unit's Family Readines Group sent us a couple of 1.5 lbs bags of Dunkin' Donuts Coffee(original blend). I just wanted to say that my soldiers loved the coffee; all I hear from my soldiers is when they can get some more. If I may ask for a small donation of more coffee, my soldiers would really appreciate it. Listed is our address: C/O Ruben Soto A Co 36th ID Unit 124 APO AE 09374"
It used to be "send a salami to your boy in the Army". Now it's coffee!
Love this...
"On Thursday morning, several residents of the condo units above the store said they were adamantly opposed to the idea of a chain restaurant moving in below them."
Oh, but if Barbara Lynch wanted to put another one of her overpriced shitholes in there, that would probably be OK. You know, as long as residents of the condo units got preferred seating.
simple economics
Here's the deal: which do you think is better for the property value of one's South End condo?
a. a Dunkin Donuts chain store in your building
or
b. a high-end fancy restaurant in your building
You forgot option C
C: A vacant storefront because of Rich folk NIMBYism.
Businesses don't just popup from nothing, and the residents don't seem to be the ones putting up the capital to open anything up there. Why should they even get a say when there's a vacant storefront going to waste because of their assholeishness.
NIMBYs don't understand market economics
That argument always amazes me, that the quality of business determines the value of the property. In truth, it is the value of the property that determines the quality of the business. If the people in those condos are more likely to spend money on Dunks than on Barbara, then Dunks is what they will get. And the market has already priced their condos appropriately, because the same customer who's spending habits determine the business opportunity is the person who paid the equilibrium price for the unit.
How about "C"?
I wouldn't own a condo in the South End. Even more overpriced shitholes. I like to remember the place as it was before the trendies moved in and ruined it.
Which is more likely to fail within a year
A Dunkin's or a high-end restaurant? Seems to me that would have more of an effect on the long-term property values of the condo than the fact Dunkins is a national chain would.
first world problems.
first world problems.
5% Problems
Since the 1% wouldn't be worried about bottom floor politics.
White Whine
I call these events "White Whine"...
that's funny...
...so do these folks!
Every single person that
Every single person that opposes will be in line waiting for their morning coffee.
This is great
I used to live on Warren Ave, so a block or so from Tremont, and I think this is great. There's absolutely no place to get dunks in this section of town without walking a bit. Considering that a few blocks over in the BackBay you can spit and hit a DnD location from anywhere.
In this area, you either have to go down to Mass Ave, Walk to the Pru, or go to china town.
I know where this location is.. and its been empty for a number of years (since before I moved out of the SE in 2009).
I think people are just getting a panties in a bunch because they dont want to give Starbucks (which is less than a block away) a run for their money (since Starbucks always has a line because its so busy because its the ONLY place to get coffee within a 3-4 block radius)
This stretch of Tremont needs
This stretch of Tremont needs thoughtful development- not just a quick fix to a vacant storefront. The neighborhood cannot absorb the negative impact on quality of life, safety, and property values.
The space is not zoned for any type of food service-- the developers and the City of Boston confirmed that when everyone bought their units. The building is made up of first time home buyers who would not have purchased there if it was zoned for food service. Only when the developers faced financial trouble did they attempt to re-zone.
We all live in the South End because we love the character and diversity. To preserve that, we need to support the kind of support local, independent businesses that are the foundation of the neighborhood-- not franchise stores that would detract from what makes the South End such a great place to live and visit.
No Dunkin'!
This stretch of Tremont needs thoughtful development- not just a quick fix to a vacant storefront. The neighborhood cannot absorb the negative impact on quality of life, safety, and property values.
The space is not zoned for any type of food service-- the developers and the City of Boston confirmed that when everyone bought their units. The building is made up of first time home buyers who would not have purchased there if it was zoned for food service. Only when the developers faced financial trouble did they attempt to re-zone.
We all live in the South End because we love the character and diversity. To preserve that, we need to support the kind of support local, independent businesses that are the foundation of the neighborhood-- not franchise stores that would detract from what makes the South End such a great place to live and visit.
Are you against food service or just against DD?
Would you and your neighbors be equally opposed if the proposed coffee shop were Red Barn, Boston Common Coffee, Espresso Royale, or some other local shop?
Quality of life? Safety? Are you serious?
First off, the "character and diversity" got kicked out of there in the late 80's. Now it's just another neighborhood that desperately wants to be seen as Boston's Greenwich Village by a majority of it's residents, which it ain't. Never will be.
Now explain to me how a Dunkin Donuts will have a "negative impact on quality of life, safety, and property values"? Please explain it to me like I'm a four year old child. Go ahead, I'll wait.
And while I'm waiting, please also figure out how you can explain "we need to support the kind of support local, independent businesses that are the foundation of the neighborhood"
If you had supported the business that was in there, we wouldn't be having this discussion.
What are they replacing?
Please tell me it's a Latin American bodega.
Otherwise, I think the area should organize like "Whose Foods?" and call it "Dunkin' Do-WHAT?!". They should put together a petition and demand that DD also serve food that is traditional to the culture of the surrounding area...like Eggs Benedict and Spinach Tofu Truffle omelettes with a tomato beurre blanc reduction.
The previous tenants were
"the modern furniture store, AVA," Which says to me they'll support their local businesses to a fault, but it's still much cheaper to jump in the BMW and head down to Ikea in Stoughton because, you know, that's kind of a local business.
The entire South End was
The entire South End was built out with essentially no zoning regulations. All the row houses, the commercial building, churches and institutions were built as the owners saw fit. But now, somehow, every last entitled soul thinks they should have veto power over every property.
The owner should pull a
The owner should pull a Vornado and board up the ground floor windows with plywood and leave them that way.