Behold, the future of Dunkin’ Donuts: The chain just unveiled a new test store featuring nitro cold brew on tap and a drive-thru lane just for mobile order pickup. The futuristic location is located in the Boston suburb of Quincy — less than a mile away from the first-ever Dunkin’ location, which opened in 1950.
The new store’s layout is slightly more reminiscent of a Starbucks than a typical Dunkin’, with an array of healthyish grab-and-go snacks like fresh fruit and yogurt parfaits. A draft system with eight taps pours iced coffee and tea as well as the aforementioned nitro cold brew, while a single-cup machine enables staff to grind and brew drip coffee one cup at a time.
It’s the latest evidence of the brand’s attempts to keep up with Starbucks: Previous efforts to take aim at its coffee behemoth rival have included launching mobile ordering and increasing its focus on espresso-based drinks.
Dunkin’ launched mobile ordering in 2017, and is doubling down on that endeavor here with a special drive-thru lane; customers picking up a mobile order can bypass the ordering line and head straight to the pickup window. The store will also add digital ordering kiosks this year, following in the footsteps of other big chains such as McDonald’s and Shake Shack.
The exterior sign at the new test store reads simply “Dunkin’” instead of Dunkin’ Donuts. The company has previously tested use of the shorter moniker — which is how many DD loyalists refer to it anyway — at a few other locations. Various features from the test store will be rolled out at 30 new or remodeled restaurants across the U.S. this year.
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