Prince Frederick, MD – Efforts to establish a second location for a popular doughnut and coffee franchise in Calvert County are creating a bit of heartburn. A recent story run by The BayNet regarding plans to locate a new Dunkin’ Donuts in Prince Frederick raised a few eyebrows since the franchisee is not the person who owns the chain’s only other Calvert location in Lusby.
Several community leaders, including representatives of the local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the Calvert County Black Chamber of Commerce, Calvert County Minority Business Alliance and Concerned Black Women of Calvert County; have expressed concern about how Dunkin’ Donuts’ corporate heads have handled the awarding of the new franchise.
Dunkin’s Lusby location is owned and operated by Nance Pretto-Simmons, who had identified several locations in Central Calvert for a new Dunkin’ Donuts location, including an area adjacent where a new shop is proposed.
“It gives the appearance of impropriety,” said Edsel Brown of the local NAACP. “It doesn’t have a good smell.” Brown indicated he had spoken with national NAACP officials expressed concern over the situation.
According to information from the Calvert County Department of Community Planning and Building, a project called “Dunkin’ Donuts at Holiday Inn Express is in the pipeline for a site plan review by the county planning commission.
Dunkin’ Brands Global Public Relations Senior Director Michelle King stated in a missive to The BayNet, “the prospective Dunkin’ Donuts location near the Holiday Inn Express in Prince Frederick is within an area under a store development agreement with another Dunkin’ Donuts franchisee. The franchisee, a female, minority-owned business, also operates three Dunkin’ Donuts locations in St. Mary’s County. This is the only reason why the location is unavailable to Nance Pretto-Simmons or any other developer. Any perception or claim that Ms. Pretto-Simmons was not permitted to expand for any other reason is completely false. Ms. Pretto-Simmons had the original store development agreement for Calvert County, and voluntarily agreed to terminate this agreement and her development rights in 2015. Prior to this, she initially presented several possible locations within Calvert County for consideration. However, at no time did she ever submit this specific Prince Frederick location for approval, nor was it ever rejected by Dunkin’ Brands. In fact, Ms. Pretto-Simmons specifically informed Dunkin’ in writing back in 2014 that she had no interest in pursuing this site that is currently under development. Our development team has worked closely with Ms. Pretto-Simmons over the past several years in support of her efforts to open multiple local Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants. We believe that Dunkin’ Brands has been more than fair with Ms. Pretto-Simmons during the course of our long relationship, both with respect to development issues and the operations at her current location in Lusby.”
Pretto-Simmons has declined comment on the issue.
Dawn Tucker of Calvert County Minority Business Alliance stated “it’s a huge problem” when a franchisee from another county is given preference over a county resident. “Why can’t they [out-of-county franchisee] expand in St. Mary’s County?”
Also surfacing last week were conflicting reports on what is proposed for the new Dunkin’ Donuts location. Initial reports indicated the new store would be located inside the hotel, a trend that Dunkin’ and other franchises are employing nationwide. A county government employee, however, has stated on social media that a new structure will be built adjacent to the hotel.
So far, calls The BayNet has made to the hotel owner and project agent have not been returned.
Meanwhile, it is possible the doughnut turf war in Calvert County could involve local, state and national elected officials who are being asked by several of the concerned minority business leaders to intervene on behalf of Pretto-Simmons.
“The issue isn’t over,” said Tucker. “We’re not going to let it die.”
To read previous story click here
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com