New Dunkin' Donuts to Open in Weatogue

Soon you will be able to get your vanilla bean coolatta, Boston kreme donut, chocolate frosted donut, muffins, munchkins and of course coffee at a new Dunkin’ Donuts in town.

The new shop, located at 142 Hopmeadow St., is slated to open in June or early July.

The site was formerly home to Wasabi restaurant. There has been a succession of businesses in the spot, some more successful than others. To house the Dunkin’ Donuts, the building was torn down and a new one built. 

This will be the town’s fourth Dunkin’ Donuts. There is one located in the same plaza as Andy’s Supermarket, one near Antonio’s Restaurant and another close to Staples on Route 44.

The pre-manufactured building was delivered March 24, said site owner Tom Evans.

The Dunkin’ Donuts will be run by Great American Donut Inc. out of Plainville, the franchisee for this and the three other Dunkin' Donuts in town. This Dunkin' will mark the group’s 50th site in the state, said Scott Fanning, president of Great American Donut.

The donut shop will be 1,800 square feet and have seating for 24 patrons. There will also be a drive-through window.

“We’re excited to have it open by summer,” Fanning said.

He said the group worked with the town’s design review board and as a result the building will look like a clapboard-sided cape.

Evans is also taking down and rebuilding — in the same footprint — the building next door at 138 Hopmeadow St. He said he does not know yet what kind of tenant will be housed in the saltbox style building, but it will be retail of some sort. Both plots are B-1, or business, zones.

Evans said he hopes the two building will open up at the same time.

“The new building is going to be asset to Weatogue,” said Evans.  

Dale Cutler, of Kenyon & Cutler Architects in Avon, who designed the Simsbury Public Library renovation and the new main fire station, designed the building.

“He put a lot of effort into that,” said Evans.

The design also blends with the building next door, an attorney’s office with the same Colonial look. On the other side is a small building that houses a barber shop, among other businesses.

Evans, who grew up in Simsbury but now lives in Westbrook, said the restaurants that have been housed on the site have all done well for several years, but after that, some experienced problems.

“Lilies was a great restaurant,” he said, adding it closed because of personal issues rather than business.

He said Wasabi was doing well but expanded to Northampton, MA, and ended up being stretched too thin.