Dunkin Donuts & Danny Sullivan
Like most in the search industry I’m a big Danny Sullivan fan & wish him the best in wherever he goes next. But even more exciting than search news (I understand some people don’t find search news exciting) are his posts on Dunkin’ Donuts (I think everyone should find donuts exciting.)
First a little background. Over a year ago I moved to Seattle from Chicago. I miss my friends, I miss the good public transportation, I miss the good Italian food, I don’t miss snow, but wow…I REALLY miss Dunkin Donuts. (no offense jack, dj, brett, walt, Rosebud, brown line irving park stop)
3 mornings a week - yes, I had some self-restraint - I would pull up to the DD drive-thru. My regular donut pusher would greet me with a smile and have my order ready by the time I got up there & likewise I would have my $3.14 in perfect change ready by arrival as well. She was a sweet Indian lady that I felt like I had a relationship with - the kind that can only be forged over a large DD coffee and two donuts. My last day in Chicago I went through the drive-thru a final time & told her that was it, I was moving. I can’t really say either of us shed any tears because that would be a lie, but we both felt the end of an era was upon us. Oh yea…it was deep. Deep like a chocolate glazed raised donut still warm from…but I digress.
Little did I know that Seattle does not have ANY dunkin donuts. I was thinking I was just losing my drive-thru donutress, but instead I lost the whole experience. This was not something I weighed or even considered in my pros/cons spreadsheet of a Seattle move. I don’t jest.
Point being. Danny loves Dunkin Donuts too! He loves donuts in general and has made a few posts about them, the latest Dunkin news just today. A few months ago he alerted me to the fact that DD was expanding which trigged the Pavlov’s dog inside of me. For this reason
Every time I walk by this store in the basement of our building I can’t help but think “that place would be PERFECT for a dunkin donuts.” Sometimes I have to question if the strong & bitter Seattle coffee drinkers would appreciate the creamy goodness and perfection of DD coffee. And if the fit hill-walkers & rock-climbers of Seattle would understand the need for a maple frosted perfect pastry vs. a cliff bar. We do have a donut shop - and it does pretty well - I give it a B. Tasty, too pricey, but it certainly has not created a passionate user out of me.
I like being a passionate user for Dunkin’ Donuts and I’ve seen and heard of a lot of us out there. Use us…we are your passionate users and want to spread the word. You can’t beat the kind of advertising you get from Danny’s blog. Please come to Seattle. We can win over the Starbuck drinkers! I’ll even consider starting a franchise - I’ve got the perfect spot!
Well, I did post about my Starbucks addiction but I’m willing to admit I started out with a DD addiction. It’s an “east coast thang” for sure.
From main to Miami and back up the coast side to the panhandle… I hunted down the DD. When I bought my first Acura (TL Type-S) I drove from NY up towards Boston… you know that Acura ad thing about driving… and ended up at the original first DD in what was it, Marlboro Mass? I understand the first Starbucks is gone, and the one in Pike is a replacement for tourists. The first DD is still going strong as a truck stop right off the Interstate an hour or so before Boston.
BTW, you can replicate the DD taste with Starbucks if you want. Get a single shot Americano in a venti cup, and add 4 sugars and 10 ounces of half ‘n half. Not my choice, but a good match for the artery clogging Dunkin Donuts standard. As I recall I could spend an entire day on a tuna boat off Brielle with nothing but that large DD and 2 “old fashioneds” (the ones with the handle).
Nice read, darren. Thanks for sharing.