Dunkin' Donuts Fueling the Orange Volunteer Fire Department

Dunkin’ Donuts Franchisee, D’Andrea Group has always offered a generous discount to first responders but recently had the opportunity to also add life-saving training to their list of perks.

With plans to relocate their current inline store in Orange at 297 Boston Post Road across the street to a DD Green drive-thru, the franchisee partnered with the Orange Volunteer Fire Department. They donated the old buildings set for demolition on their new property at 226 Boston Post Road to the fire department for training.

“It’s invaluable for us for training purposes,” stated Orange Volunteer Fire Department’s Lt. Joe Duplinsky. “It keeps our skills up for the future.”

Duplinsky and a team of about dozen volunteer firefighters were able to practice real-life fire training exercises on two buildings set to be demolished to make way for the new Dunkin’ Donuts.

In a two-day training, Duplinsky said his team was able to practice some techniques including fire survival, search and rescue, and truck company maneuvers.

The fire department tore through walls, broke down doors, broken windows, and even cut through the roofs of the two buildings. Duplinsky said the training conducted is crucial for firefighters.

Having the chance to practice fire training on buildings set for demolition only happens about once or twice a year said Duplinsky.

D’Andrea Group will be opening a 2,200-square-foot DD Green store at the new location by June 1, 2016 and will be closing the former location in the shopping plaza.

D’Andrea Group owns 13 Dunkin’ Donuts locations from Killingworth to Milford, including the drive-thru location at 377 Boston Post Road, Orange.

The DD Green location at 226 Boston Post Road, Orange will be the D’Andrea Group’s second DD Green location built this year. A DD Green drive-thru store is set to open at 200 Captain Thomas Boulvard, West Haven, in April.

D’Andrea Group is one of the first Dunkin’ Donuts franchisees in the state to build new green locations. Some of the initiatives include a highly efficient HVAC system, LED light fixtures, Zero-Voc paint use, solar shade use, recycling and food waste reduction.

In addition to the green building standards, a unique pillar of DD Green is a commitment to community outreach.

Franchisee Frank D’Andrea who is also the company’s developer said, “Donating the use of our buildings to the fire department is one way in which we have connected with the community but our efforts won’t stop there. We are committed to developing a robust recycling plan for this store, adding recycling to our current non-green locations, choosing DD Green on any new build and incorporating DD Green in any remodel as space and scope allow.”

As for the partnership with the fire department, firefighter Charles Laudenslager said he’s excited about the new DD Green build. He said he plans on frequenting the new drive-thru location. “I will be there for sure,” he said, “because I drink coffee all day, all night.”