A new Dunkin’ Donuts in the Village of Great Neck could open its doors to the public July 4, after nearly six months of planning.
Located at 566 Middle Neck Road, the cafe-style shop will feature a fireplace, leather couches, WiFi and outdoor seating.
The design is meant to encourage people to open up their laptops and stay a while, said Edward Butt of Butt Otruba O’Connor Architects. As the newest prototype for franchise, he said this is the future of Dunkin’ Donuts.
“We expect the traffic here to be by foot, not by car,” he said. “This is going to be a more of a destination.”
Dunkin’ Donuts has the okay for eight outdoor seats, a number that may increase pending approval for an eight foot sidewalk extension by Nassau County officials.
No parking is currently allowed in front of the site, but a parking lot in back has room for nine cars.
Butt said the sidewalk extension would further discourage people from illegally parking in front of the store and running inside to buy coffee.
Village of Great Neck trustees rejected in March one of Dunkin’ Donuts signature colors, dubbed “Startling Orange,” as out of character with the historic character of the village. A more subdued Tuscan Orange was approved June 7.
“[Dunkin’ Donuts] are willing to be a little more sensitive to the local community, if they want to get that toned down a little,” Butt said. “They still wanted to keep the orange, so I think that was a nice compromise from the board.”
