Chezsven Blog: Wellfleet Today: Why Dunkin' Donuts Is Coming to Wellfleet ....

Wednesday, May 05, 2010

Why Dunkin' Donuts Is Coming to Wellfleet ....

At breakfast yesterday our Green Room guests were asking about how our cute little town had managed to avoid invasion by a Macdonalds or a BurgerKing. I had to tell them, with regret, that Dunkin’ Donuts will soon become part of the landscape as they cruise down Route 6….

“That’s not so bad,” said the husband, scooping up a mouthful of scrambled egg.

Dunkin’ Donuts in Wellfleet? Wellfleetians are not too pleased, especially now that we have a real French bakery that sells coffee and pastries: PB Boulangerie Bistro.

Here’s an email from one of my neighbors: “I am upset about Dunkin’ Donuts coming to town. I am of the mind that the site would be better served for Outer Cape Health Service (accessible, visible, etc) and the property at the Council on Aging used for affordable housing. Why do we 'need' a chain store when we have locally owned establishments that struggle to stay open year round? Once again ‘we’ lack imagination. Slowly Wellfleet turns into a community like every other. And, then what's next? I think that we are the frog in the pot of water, not noticing as it slowly starts to boil. Trophy fire station, trophy water system soon, probably trophy waste management system, police, etc.....(sigh)......oh dear...enough, now time to get out to enjoy this beautiful day!!”

There’s not much we can do. The space used to house Christine’s Oasis, a fabulous bakery that made custom birthday cakes and did serve as an oasis for a good while, but Christine and her husband Bob decided to retire.

Sam Cooks rented the space for a couple years but his deli was obliged to close last fall due to the recession. Not enough business ... We may want traditional shops with class and character in town but shopkeepers must bring home the bacon every day, not only in the summer. Coming soon, to your favorite seaside town, Dunkin' Donuts trash!

I know some readers are dreading the arrival of this chain store and it will arrive, because the space is being renovated as I write (see below). What do you think? Was the landlord wrong to rent if the chain was the only candidate? Do you see doom and gloom in having Dunkin’ Donuts set up shop on Route 6? Will you drink your lattés there this summer? Is this progress, or the beginning of the end of what makes our town special?

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janet · 777 weeks ago

I dread all those styrofoam cups most of all. Too bad there's not a return deposit on styrofoam, a local law against its use, or a good way to recycle it. The orange and purple signs are ugly, but so are closed up storefronts. I would choose a locally-owned option first, but I sometimes buy DD coffees in the tiny Eastham shop. Long lines snake out the doors there on summer mornings. There are worse locations they could have picked in Wellfleet... at least they'll be out on the highway, with plenty of parking space. Some native landscaping would be a welcome addition.

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Kerri · 777 weeks ago

I'm not from your town, but I live in another very small town tourist destination that has little corporate influence (besides Wal-Mart, ugh). I used to miss Starbucks, but our two independent coffee shops makes much better coffee and I love the idea of supporting a local entrepreneur. Not sure the arrival of your Dunkin' Donuts is a signal of the end of no-chains as you know it, but like Wal-Mart, it might drive out the smaller guys.

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marthaandme 42p · 777 weeks ago

This is a tough one. In my town, we have a Dunkin and Tim Horton as well as a locally owned coffee shop all in a row on Main St. The chains are mobbed and the coffee house is struggling. I think that people like the way you can rely on chain products. You know you can always get your latte and peanut donut at Dunkin and it will always be the same. I would prefer to use local establishments, but admit that when traveling it is challenging to find one all the time and you never quite know what you will get (although that can be fun). I think it is sad that your town which has so much character will be "modernized" by this.

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Kristen · 777 weeks ago

Like Marthaandme, I try to go local when it comes to buying, but it's not always possible. I hope that your local coffee and bakery shop survives and thrives--maybe there's enough room and business for both? You'll have to report back.

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

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chezsven 82p · 777 weeks ago

The French bakery is awesome, Kristen. I think they will do well, especially since they are in South Wellfleet and the DD is closer to the village, and to me. I would prefer to have PB BoulangerieBistro within walking distance, however.

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sarahhenry44 17p · 777 weeks ago

If I can, I try to vote with my feet -- and pocketbook -- by supporting local, small businesses over megachains. Not always possible in different parts of this country (sometimes a granola-yogurt-fruit cup from Starbucks is just the thing for a hungry vegetarian kid while on a road trip). Sounds like I'm not alone.
My recent post Farmer Jane: Females in the Fields

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Susan · 777 weeks ago

Why get your coffee fix from Dunkin' Donuts when you can go somewhere cute and local like Hot Chocolate Sparrow? (OK, I admit that I have had DD's flatbreads on occasion.) I'm not so sure that one chain is a sign of the beginning of the end, though. There are some areas of Boston that manage to have both. For instance, Coolidge Corner comes to mind. They have a DD and a Panera Bread, as well as local favorites like Brookline Booksmith and the Coolidge Corner Movie Theater.
My recent post Open Thread: What Are Your Deal-Breakers?

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kerry · 777 weeks ago

one thing I've learned -- chain restaurants all around the world have their sameness, of course, but but if you're observant you see that they also each take on a bit of the character of the local community, because local people work in them. which of course is not an answer to your questions. from your description, it sounds as though there could be room for both the bakery and Dunkin in Wellfleetians' lives, though they might not have chosen that course if asked.

My recent post Road Trip Music in Virginia

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ruth pennebaker · 777 weeks ago

Every time you write about Wellfleet, I vow to go there, Alexandra. (Although I do have a question: How do you pronounce "Wellfleetians"?) Sorry about the new addition to your lovely community.
My recent post New York Shows Us the Way

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peg from PA · 777 weeks ago

I owned a small retail bakery many years ago. At that time, my competition became the big grocery stores as they began sell baked goods , mass produced frozen bake-off products, and cake mix cakes. I did a pretty good retail business, but over time I had to go into wholesaling pies and breads to small farm markets and stores, and restaurant desserts. It eventually became a choice between white shortening laden, tasteless products easily bought while shopping for groceries and the inconvenience of an extra stop for a local fresh egg and real butter cake. Convenience won over quality, and now very few people know the difference between pastry made by hand with butter, eggs and love and box mix (the just-add-water type) They eat the chain products without thinking twice. When traveling, I pack food, I'll make a sandwich on the bumper, I eat fruit and nuts and homemade cookies. I have a full time job, but would rather stay up late baking than stop at a fast food anything.
I am sorry about the Dunkin Donuts. But I can assure you, the bakery in town has my business.

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Vera Badertscher · 777 weeks ago

I recently visited Fredericksburg TX, which amazingly has no chain anything within the city limits--even though they do not have stringent zoning regulations. Even thought it is a tourist destination, only recently have they even had chain motels outside of town. Inside town it's still nothing but B & Bs. Amazing!
My recent post May Travel Literature Giveaway

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Alisa · 777 weeks ago

I've seen this before with chains in small towns. It's not always the end of the world. In your town, it may very well be possible that DD cannot survive the winter, esp if the locals won't patronize the place. All of that said, I cannot resist mentioning something my 5 year old said today: "Mommy? Can we go somewhere unhealthy for my birthday? Maybe Dunkin Donuts or McDonald's? Oh! I know! How about Burger King!" At least she knows what kind of food they serve!
My recent post What are your turn offs and turn ons?

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anjuli · 777 weeks ago

Here in Renton there are chains- however in downtown Renton(at least in the older part of town) there are more private owned shops- and I have come to soooo enjoy them!! I would definitely go to the bakery rather than Dunkin Donuts.
My recent post Seattle and Music

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Rachel Vidoni · 777 weeks ago

Alexandra,
I just spend a considerable amount of time on your B&B blog! Wow! I'd love to bring the family (mabe just my husband...) down to stay sometime. It looks sooo beautiful! We live in Easton, MA so I'm not that far. I also thought it was interesting that you are Russian-American; my husband speaks some Russian and has visited there three times, the most recent stint was when he lived there (Sakahalin) for a year on a 9/3 rotation a few years ago. Anyway, just wanted to say hi and I love your B&B site! As for Dunkin Donuts, I don't care much for them; I'd rather frequent an independant coffee house myself, but thats the thing with our culture...we have disdain for the chain stores, but don't support the mom and pop shops so they can stay in business. Good luck with the blogathon!
My recent post Cinco de What?

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chezsven 82p · 777 weeks ago

David Wright asked me to post his comment for him: "Wellfleet's laws cannot differentiate between chains and bistros. And should they? Working on the assumption that business is 'blind', there are only two things that have kept chains out of Wellfleet so far: 1) not enough patrons to make it worth their while and 2) iffy water. We're doing our best to 'correct' this situation, aren't we?"

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Meredith · 776 weeks ago

It is a rarity to see a no-chain environment just about everywhere (anywhere?) these days. On a novelty level I love going to DD when we're back east. But on a personal level I agree that the introduction of a chain to an otherwise pristine area (non-chain) is more than a melancholy thing.
My recent post If The Writer’s [Inner] Journey was an actual place…

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Kris · 776 weeks ago

If people in town truly don't like having Dunkin Donuts there, it will be up to them to use their money wisely by supporting the local bakery rather than DD. It seems all too often, though, that while one side of the mouth doesn't like the shop there, the other side likes to eat the donuts. As for the landlord? I don't think it's up to him to dictate what's good for the town. He needs to pay his bills and if the only person lining up is DD, well then, he's got to do what's right for him.
My recent post Free Kona Orchid Society Show & Sale – 5/7 & 5/8

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BernardGT 109p · 776 weeks ago

That's the world of corporatism and capitalism...i see lotsa chain stores invading my neighbourhood too, too bad - I wonder how those neighbourhood stores will take up all the challenge!!??

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Elizabeth costantino · 776 weeks ago

We can all agree not to go to Dunkin Donuts. I know I won't. If no one buys they won't be around for long. Their food is awfully anyway so I won't be missing anything.

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Rebecca · 776 weeks ago

I go to DD because I have a card with them. I never carry cash, and most of those local shops don't take plastic. I realize my own town has been over-run with chains in the last 20 years, but now that I'm sick, not working/earning as much and not interested in traveling far for basics, I'm grateful places like Walmart or Marshalls are close by. It's easy to say 'shop local', it's another thing to afford it. A boutique is not affordable, and I don't think a local pastry shop will have donuts or muffins for the same price as DD

1 reply · active 776 weeks ago

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chezsven 82p · 776 weeks ago

Thanks for your comment, Rebecca. PB Boulangerie takes plastic. How much is a donut at DD? PB Boulangerie is trying to be affordable, according to the article in the spring Edible Cape Cod. Unfortunately they do not update their site fast, and still have the winter issue online. $2.50 for a croissant? I have decided I have to make my own for our guests though as I do not want to drive the four miles to get bread.

Hope you feel better soon!

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Tom W. · 772 weeks ago

It is truly a mixed blessing for Wellfleet. The thought of a chain such as Dunkin Donuts is disturbing however the thought of creation of 25 year round jobs in a poor economy is a wonderful thing.

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