Does Dunkin’ Donuts serve the best doughnuts you'll ever consume? Of course not — for that, I'll refer you to our "Where To Get A Good Doughnut In SF" list and, for those headed out of town, our "The 11 Best Destination Doughnut Spots Around The Bay Area" rankings. But for many, the company's confections and coffee scratch that same comfort foods slash nostalgia itch that, say, Nation's or Little Caesars does. That's likely why news in 2014 that the chain would be (re) expanding* into the Bay Area was met with excitement by many, and why I'll likely be making a pilgrimage to South San Francisco next month to visit the DD's newest NorCal location.
At 5 a.m. on February 1, the company informs us via press release, we'll see a DD open at 180 South Airport Boulevard, in that tangled mess of SSF streets just east of 101 near SFO. This location will be the closest one to San Francisco thus far, as one opened in Walnut Creek in June and a second opened in Half Moon Bay in August. And as "the company has plans to open 24 more Dunkin' Donuts restaurants in Alameda and San Mateo counties over the next several years," they say, this might be our nearest option for quite some time.
As with the other openings, there will be considerable pomp and circumstance: Per the press release, visitors on Feb 1 can expect "food and beverage samples, special giveaways to the first 100 people in line, a $250 gift card to the first person in line and an appearance by Dunkin' Donuts mascot Cuppy," whom I find more than slightly terrifying.
According to DD, the new store is owned by the same franchisee who operated the Half Moon Bay location, California Donut Kings, LLC. Fun fact, per the Merc: At that venue, "the Bavarian Creme has been the top-selling doughnut and the plain bagel with cream cheese the most-often-ordered item from the baked good menu." I cannot in good conscience defend a DD bagel, but agree that the B-Creme is truly an excellent way to fly.
When it opens, the new store (which, they say, will employ 30) will serve customers from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, and "will offer free Wi-Fi and modern interior décor." Which sounds perfect for co-working, right? Caleb, and Jay, I'll pick you guys up at 4:30 a.m. on February 2.
*People who've clocked in more than two decades in the Bay Area will recall DD locations on the peninsula and elsewhere back in the day, but all those shuttered in the late 90s/extremely early 00s.
