MONROE, CT — Two young women waited in their cars since 10:30 p.m. Tuesday night, so they could be among the first 100 guests in line at the new Dunkin’ Donuts location at 395 Monroe Turnpike Wednesday morning, making them eligible to win free coffee for a year, and a few other customers had arrived by 5 a.m.
The coffee giveaway was among the highlights of the official grand opening of the new restaurant, following the move from the storefront at 447 Monroe Turnpike, at the corner of Elm Street.
Myke Feenix, a deejay with ProPhotoBoothDJs.Com, played music under a tent outside the building, at the edge of Village Square, as light rain fell at 11 a.m.
An inflatable archway resembling a doughnut with white frosting and sprinkles and the Dunkin’ Donuts logo, was set up inside the front entrance and pink and orange balloons adorned the room.
“It’s a great location,” said Emanuel “Manny” Pinheiro, the franchisee. “The best part is the drive-thru to add onto the business and the staff.”
The original store at 447 Monroe Turnpike did not have a drive-thru. Pinheiro said about 60 percent of Dunkin’ Donuts’ business comes from drive-thru orders with 40 percent of sales from in-store purchases.
Pinheiro, whose career with Dunkin’ Donuts dates back 30 years when he was hired as a baker for a store in Providence, R.I., has been with the Carlos Andrade Group, which owns 39 stores in Connecticut and 40 in Massachusetts, for the past 25 years.
The group also owns the Dunkin’ Donuts’ locations at 695 Main St. and 230 Roosevelt Drive in Monroe, among its 14 Fairfield County stores.
“It was great today to enjoy everything the guys are doing,” Pinheiro said.
ProPhotoBoothDJs.Com offered a photo booth with props for customers throughout the day and Dunkin’ Donuts representatives gave out breakfast coupons at a table, allowing patrons to get a breakfast sandwich, medium hot or iced coffee and hash browns for $4.99.
The Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation presented a $3,000 check to Connecticut Foodshare, a nonprofit which serves the more than 400,000 food-insecure residents throughout the state.
Beverly Catchpole, chief giving officer of Connecticut Foodshare, said one in six children are food-insecure.
“We saw a tremendous increase in food insecurity during the pandemic,” Catchpole said. “It started getting better and now, unfortunately, it’s getting worse. This $3,000 donation from Dunkin’ will enable us to provide 6,000 meals.”
Wednesday’s festivities included a ribbon cutting ceremony with Monroe First Selectman Terry Rooney, Economic and Community Development Director William Holsworth, Monroe Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Lee Hossler and Monroe Fire Chief Kevin Catalano.
“Thank you for continuing to invest in our town and our community,” Rooney said to Pinheiro. “The building is beautiful. You did an amazing job. We wish you great success.”
Then Rooney joked, “and obviously you know our town employees enjoy it as well. They’re here three or four times a day. Thanks again, congratulations and welcome.”
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