Comments on: Boston’s only kosher Dunkin’ Donuts closes tonight

By: alyssa kaplan

alyssa kaplan — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 13:07:20 +0000

article about new kosher staten island dunkin donuts
http://www.thejewishweek.com/viewArticle/c36_a782/News/New_York.html

By: Ori

Ori — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 01:05:32 +0000

The Dunkin Donuts mixes are made with powdered milk (chalav stam) and, according to some opinions, powdered milk has a different status than regular milk (Rav Zvi Pesach Frank comes to mind, although I believe his heter was only for a time of great need) . So as long as the other ingredients added in the store (or, I guess, the milk that they use therein) is CY - some people who are makpid on CY will eat there. In Baltimore the 2 kosher DDs have a sign that state that the donuts mixes are made with powdered milk.

By: DeisCane

DeisCane — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 15:58:36 +0000

What’s wrong with the Vaad?

By: alyssa kaplan

alyssa kaplan — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 15:16:49 +0000

I suspect that dunkin donuts are never going to go chalav yisrael since all stores make their donuts from the same batter for consistency of taste.

By: LC

LC — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 14:23:12 +0000

As much as I’m disappointed that a kosher establishment closed, it was not chalav yisroel in any case, and we therefore did not go in.

*I’m* still pining for the day that we’re near one of the 2 (or so I’ve heard) nationwide chalav yisroel Dunkin Donuts.

Someone *should* open a new bakery/coffeeshop around here, preferably chalav yisroel or all pareve, with hashgacha other than the Vaad.

By: gsquaredb

gsquaredb — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 19:48:01 +0000

There were a bunch a kosher DD’s in the Wash DC suburbs of Maryland. Owner of the franchises said that corporate forced him to switch to non kosher but really it was a matter of him not making enough. You figure someone comes in and buys a whole DD meal with bacon, eggs etc and spends $5 vs kosher only stores selling 50c donuts.

By: Ari

Ari — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 19:23:41 +0000

My understanding is that the Jamaica Plains J.P. Licks is still kosher (under supervision). Only the new location in Mission Hill is not under supervision so that they can serve various non-kosher sandwiches…

By: jabbett

jabbett — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 19:16:00 +0000

One more note regarding drive-thrus… they’re necessary because Dunkin’ Donuts has specifically moved away from the traditional “coffee shop” model, where you sit at a counter and enjoy a little conversation over a cup of coffee. Starbucks, on the other hand, has embraced the sit-and-stay-a-while mentality, making most of their stores spacious and comfortable. That renders an in-and-out drive-thru less relevant (and also takes the sting out of paying $5 for a coffee).

By: David

David — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 19:11:36 +0000

If I remember correctly, the owner of J.P. Licks planned to convert ALL of his stores to non-kosher. Someone (who?) intervened and asked the owner to poll his clientele. As a result, the owner converted only the one in Jamaica Plains.

I’m unsure if a parallel situation applies here. But perhaps if our community were given notice of the potential closing then we would have increased our purchasing power there.

By: jabbett

jabbett — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 19:01:20 +0000

Since this was the choice of the franchiser, and not some dictum from Dunkin’ Corporate, I doubt complaints will have much effect. Instead, someone in our community could take advantage of the opportunity this creates and open a new donut store.

Gary’s advice, though, is important. People aren’t eating as many donuts as they used to. Health concerns may or may not be at the heart of it, but the real draw of a donut shop is now the beverages and the more substantive menu options, as exemplified by the changing menus at non-kosher Dunkin’ Donuts locations. We’re seeing more interesting drinks like lattes, smoothies, and iced tea, and wider varieties of food like flatbread sandwiches and pizza.

Another critical factor in the success of any Dunkin’ Donuts-style eatery is a drive-thru window. Since moving to Brookline, I’ve rarely gone to any Dunkin’ Donuts since it’s so hard to park near one, and there are no drive-thrus. Construction or not, Washington Square is not conducive to an in-and-out coffee run.