Published: June 08, 2008 05:43 pm      

Dunkin Donuts returning to Kokomo

Company plans to have up to five locations in area.

It has been more than two decades since Kokomo was home to a Dunkin Donuts franchise, but that will be changing later this year.

Craig Sanders, executive vice president for HSG Restaurant Group, said Tuesday the company has plans to open as many as five Dunkin Donuts in the Kokomo area in the next five years.

The first store located at Southway Boulevard and U.S. 31 is slated to open in September, and Sanders said locations for a second and third store could be determined at that time.

“This is a huge investment to return to central Indiana,” he said. “There could be 80 stores in the Indianapolis area by 2015, with locations ranging from Columbus to West Lafayette.”

Dunkin Donuts started in 1950 and is one of the oldest franchise restaurant chains in the county, according to Sanders.

Each store is expected to provide employment for up to 50 people, he said.

“We’re looking at a downtown location,” Sanders said of Kokomo.

Jerry Santen, representative for the Indiana/Kentucky Regional Council of Carpenters, was pleased that developer Frank Swiss is using local contractors for some of the work on the first Dunkin Donuts location.

“There are companies that have been doing business in Kokomo for 30 or 40 years paying a good wage,” he said. “Those dollars turn over 7-to-12 times in the local economy.”

Sanders said Dunkin Donuts nationally is attempting to re-energize the brand name and will be offering flat bread sandwiches and pizza in addition to the traditional coffee drinks and donuts.