Dunkin' Could Close 800 Stores, Fate Of CT Locations Uncertain

CONNECTICUT — Dunkin' said Thursday it is closing hundreds of locations across the United States this year, but the exact fate of the hundreds of Connecticut stores is uncertain.

The announcement was made in the second-quarter earnings report released Thursday by parent company Dunkin' Brands.

The earnings report states that the company could close about 800 Dunkin' locations in all. That number includes 450 limited-menu Dunkin' counters in the Speedway gas station chain.

The 450 Speedway locations cut the potential Connecticut impact in half because there are none listed in the Nutmeg State. The closest Speedway to the state border in all directions is in Springfield, MA.

According to the earnings report, stores could close "on a gross basis as part of a real estate portfolio rationalization, being performed in conjunction with its franchisees, with the goal of setting the U.S. system up for continued strong, profitable future growth."

The 800 locations would represent approximately 8 percent of Dunkin' Brands' domestic restaurant "footprint." That translates to about 2 percent of Dunkin' Brands' U.S. systemwide 2019 sales, inclusive of the Speedway closings, according to the earnings reports.

Back in Connecticut, a manager at one of the five Dunkin' restaurants in Vernon said most of the area locations are owned in bulk by franchisees. The owner of her store has 21 others, she said. Another franchisee in the region has 44 holdings, she added.

The manager said usually, there is advance notice of any closures and so far, there has been no notice.

Dunkin' has more than 11,300 restaurants worldwide – more than 8,500 restaurants in 41 U.S. states and more than 3,200 international restaurants across 36 countries.

Dunkin' reported on Thursday that same-store sales fell by 18.7 percent in the most recent quarter, excluding locations that were temporarily closed.

The company did say, sales have been improving week-over-week throughout the quarter, reaching single-digit declines last week.

Dunkin' was active on social media Thursday, but not about the potential closings. Customers will be required to wear masks as of Aug. 5, according to a Tweet.