Dunkin’ franchisee Dan Day is expanding in Wichita again — this time with construction of a drive-through only location on the east side.
The new Dunkin’ will go up a block west of Central and Hillside, on the site where a former credit union building was just torn down last month.
“We’ve been looking at locations close to downtown and this location was a good fit for us,” Day said in an email.
Located at 3100 E. Central, the drive-through only Dunkin’ won’t have an indoor dining room, but Day says there will be some outdoor dining tables just outside the building.
Dunkin’ now joins several other big restaurant brand names at the intersection, which is anchored by Wesley Medical Center and has a Starbucks location just on the other side of Central Avenue.
“I’m excited to bring another coffee option to that area, along with our donuts and sandwiches,” Day said. “Strong traffic, visibility, ease of access, and a good retail area are the main factors that make this spot a good fit for the Dunkin’ profile.”
Construction is expected to begin either late this year or in early 2022, and should finish sometime before summer, Day said, but timelines are still tentative.
Much like Day’s most recent Dunkin’ going up now on Maize Road, the project is being developed by group called Mountain Pass Investments LLC, which includes Landmark Commercial Real Estate’s Scott Harper and Brad Saville. Mountain Pass bought the Central and Hillside lot in March after the tenant in the building, Great Plains Federal Credit Union, relocated to Central and Greenwich.
“I think that the walkability from the hospital is also part of what makes it such a great site, in addition to the traffic in the intersection,” Harper said. “It’s been a good partnership.”
Harper and Saville will develop the site, and Day’s NewDays LLC will lease and operate the store.
Jaco General Contractor will be the builder.
When it opens, the East Central site will be Day’s eighth Dunkin’ location in the Wichita area — the seventh being the under-construction location at 29th Street and Maize Road in northwest Wichita.
“I think America in general, but especially Wichita, has a really positive view of Dunkin,’ they enjoy their products,” Day has said. “Over 50% of our business is coffee, so everybody’s latched onto the coffee.”
