There’s a new doughnut shop coming to Far Hills Avenue

A new doughnut shop is moving in to a Far Hills Avenue property that has housed a fast-food restaurant and, more recently, a pharmacy.

The Dayton area's eighth Dunkin' Donuts will be located at 5901 Far Hills Ave. (Ohio 48) in Washington Twp., Pat Gilligan, the Dunkin' Donuts franchise owner in the Dayton and Cincinnati areas, told this news outlet. The space housed a Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers restaurant for 16 years until the restaurant shut down abruptly just before Thanksgiving in 2014. More recently, it housed a Clark's Pharmacy location that closed in December 2017.

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The region's newest Dunkin' Donuts will be designed and built out as part of the chain's "Next Generation Concept Store" that Dunkin' officials unveiled a month ago, Gilligan said.

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The Next Generation stores include digital kiosks that will allow customers to place an order without the help of a crew member; a faster drive-through experience for members of Dunkin’s “DD Perks” loyalty program who order ahead through a mobile app; and an expanded “grab-and-go” selection of bottles beverages, snacks and fresh fruit.

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“The launch of our next generation concept store marks one of the most important moments in Dunkin’ Donuts’ growth as an on-the-go, beverage-led brand,” Dave Hoffmann, president of Dunkin’ Donuts U.S. and Canada, said in a release. “We have worked closely with our franchisee community to create a positive, energetic atmosphere for our guests that remains true to our heritage, while emphasizing and enhancing the unparalleled convenience, digital innovation and restaurant excellence that distinguishes Dunkin’.”

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Gilligan’s announcement comes just one month after the Dunkin’ franchisee confirmed that he expects to break ground in March or April on a new Dunkin’ at 168 E. Dayton-Yellow Springs Road in Fairborn.

Both the Far Hills Avenue store and the Fairborn location could open as early as June or July, Gilligan said.

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There are Dunkin’ Donuts locations in Kettering, Centerville, Sugarcreek Twp., Miami Twp., Riverside and Springfield. All but one of the existing shops (Miami Twp.) have opened in the last four years.

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Prior to Gilligan’s franchise deal, Dunkin’ Donuts’ once-robust presence in the Dayton area had shrunk to one location on Springboro Pike (Ohio 741) near the Dayton Mall, which operates under separate franchise ownership.

Originally a doughnut and coffee chain, Dunkin’ Donuts has expanded its offerings in recent years to include frozen and iced beverages as well as bagels, muffins, breakfast sandwiches, bakery sandwiches and wraps.

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