June 13, 2008
by Christine Yeres
New Castle locals who run on Dunkin’ Donuts, will have to find other fuel for the next three weeks. On Monday, June 9, customers milled forlornly at the front and back of the closed shop, regrouping mentally without the aid of their first caffeine of the day.
Franchisee Jim Lash, a resident of New Castle, would like to oblige, but, he explained, “every ten years corporate headquarters requires us to remodel, to renovate to the newest Dunkin Donuts image, replace everything and make the store more functional.”
When the store reopens at the end of June, or early July at the latest Lash hopes, the biggest difference customers will notice after their first sips of caffeine will be the new décor. Lash said, “The interior will be warm woods, warm wallpapers, a lot more upscale look to it granite counters. Over the years, as products have come in that weren’t originally planned for, [the outdated layout] limits what you can sell.”
There was no trouble getting town approval for the renovation, Lash reported. “We’ve been here so long, they don’t mind. The town’s been wonderful. A lot of customers say the shop was already great, but the functionality will be better and it’ll be clearer how to get in line, the queuing. It will be a nicer look for Chappaqua. I even upgraded from the original design. It’ll have a nice country look to it, subdued lighting and artwork. There’ll still be the linear counter down the center of the store.”
Dunkin’ Donuts’ renovation will dovetail nicely with the town’s plans to renovate the parking lot this summer that surrounds the building that houses Dunkin’ Donuts. “The town will proceed with the big back parking area. I saw the plans, and it looks awesome. I hope they start soon,” said Lash enthusiastically.
The town’s renovation calls for the entrance to that parking lot from Greeley Avenue to be permanently closed; customers will enter the parking lot by what is now the exit behind Pizza Station and exit through the train station parking lot. The town hopes to accomplish its renovation by the end of the summer. Lash will be open long before that. On the first Saturday of his reopening, late June or early July, a small hot or cold coffee is on the house, he promises.
Copyright 2008 NewCastleNOW.org