Dunkin Donuts and Its Changes Over the Years

I will say first that my mother was an employee of various Dunkin Donuts and Mister Donuts (which would become Dunkin Donuts). The information and opinions that I am providing are based on my observations over a 30 year period that I was in and around the Dunkin Donut stores. I was there a lot since I stayed part of the night there until my dad got off work. I actually learned to do some of the baking and finishing the donuts when I was bored. Things have changed quite a bit over that time period in not only the management of the stores, but the products themselves.

Initially Dunkin Donuts was known for fresh and tasty donuts. There was a funny looking baker named Fred. He used a catch phrase "Time to make the donuts" and "I made the donuts" were often used is commercials until 1997. The logo was basically the same as it is now. The menu was pretty much the same for quite some time. At some point in the lat eighties they started to serve breakfast croissants that would have egg, cheese and bacon, ham or sausage. They also started to eventually make these on bagels. This is based what was available at most of the middle Atlantic locations. Many of the stores had tables you could sit down at. Quite a few of the stores in my area even had counters were you basically had an almost table type service. Typically the servers got tips except for the cheapskates who would not tip. The donuts and everything else was really good. The coffee was great and always fresh. Donuts were made fresh every single day and the old ones were thrown out or donated. A couple stores would sell the day old ones at a discount. I think you could get a dozen donuts for like $2-3. They had a very wide selection of donuts. The majority of the people who worked there also spoke perfect English and were Americans.

In the present there have been quite a few changes. There are still a wide variety of donuts, but most places only carry a few varieties at a time. Instead of just regular or decaf coffee there are a wide variety of cappuccinos, and various other coffee drinks both hold and cold in a large variety of flavors. Some are served hot and others are served cold. Their food menu has also expanded greatly. They have now have breakfast sandwiches available on biscuits and various flatbread melts. Many stores also have chicken and turkey flatbread sandwiches in a variety of flavors. Some stores even sell a frozen personal pan pizza type concoction. I must say that their food does not seem to have the quality or freshness that it used to. This is probably because as it got bigger and bigger people started to do things more and more their own way. Dunkin Donuts still has some good products, but you will never see commercials talking about fresh made donuts because they are not made fresh daily at any of the several Dunkin Donuts I have stopped at on the east coast. Their breakfast sandwiches are generally pretty good, but for the price I would rather hit McDonalds. Their coffee is often good, but it really comes down to what location you were at. Back in the day it really did not matter as the quality was basically the same everywhere. There are six that are in a reasonable distance between home and work and only two of them have good coffee. I often end up at Dunkin Donuts if any other places are too busy or I feel like a donut and cup of coffee. If I just want coffee I think Wa-Wa is the best based on quality and price. The prices are also expensive as hell these days at Dunkin Donuts. I think without coupons a dozen donuts is about $8.00 at most locations for donuts that are stale more than half of the time.

Another thing that really almost seems absurd is that almost every Dunkin Donuts that I have been to in the last several years, maybe even decade, is ran by Indians as in from India. Many speak horrible English and don't seem to be the most hygienic people when you are ordering food. That may be why the concept of made fresh daily went away because of penny pinching trying to save money to take over more and more of the country. In all fairness I am sure the majorities are here legally and are good people, but I am sure there are places they can sell donuts at back in India. The other thing is since most Indians I know are vegetarians I often wonder why they would want to sell meat at their shops. If they don't eat it how could they possible recommend it? I have a friend who is originally from India, but has been in the states so long that he is Americanized. His parents bought a deli and they don't eat meat, but I get stuff all the time by my friend Parrin (he goes by Pete) and I tell him if its good stuff. His parents also know you don't put 10 sugars into a large coffee until it is requested. I have had this happen twice at Dunkin Donuts.

Anyway those are the various changes in Dunkin Donuts that I have notices over the past 30 years. It also shows how the country is being taken over by either foreigners or "honorary Americans". Maybe people will wake up one day while the country is still a great nation. We have an American institution that you can hardly find an American owner of anymore. I am all for immigrant opportunities as long as they are here legally and not anchor babies, but it is just unreal the amount of Indians running Dunkin Donuts.