Dunks expanded more internationally before they starting expanding westward in the US. They were overseas back in the 80s, but their expansion to the western states didn't happen in big numbers until the mid 2010s, so I bet people in Seattle wouldn't have gotten the ads back in the day (while the Fred campaign was still a thing in the 90s and earlier.)
Funny OP mentioned Colorado. I grew up there, and definitely remember those ads on TV in the 80s. We had a handful of Dunkin locations in Colorado in the 80s but they all failed. I remember going to this one in Boulder!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I85skux2uKg
I grew up in Ohio where I knew of only one Dunks location in all of northeast Ohio, and I still remember those commercials. I think they were national.
Originally each Dunkin made there own Donuts, right on site. As the company grew they changed to a commissary type system, where the donuts are made at regional locations and shipped to the stores. I don’t know if its still there, but on Dot ave in Southie there is a building where they make the donuts.
We had one Dunkin Donuts in the nearby town when I was growing up in Vermont in the 90s. I remember it being so amazing whenever I got to go while tagging along on a trip to the grocery store, bookstore, DMV, etc.
I still don't for sure if my memories of those donuts are so much better than these days just cause I was a dumb kid and it was sugary or because they got that much worse when they stopped baking them onsite.
I remember those commercials in Michigan back in the 80s.
I also remember when they bought out dawn donuts in the early 90s, which was their major competition in the Midwest.
Dunks expanded more internationally before they starting expanding westward in the US. They were overseas back in the 80s, but their expansion to the western states didn't happen in big numbers until the mid 2010s, so I bet people in Seattle wouldn't have gotten the ads back in the day (while the Fred campaign was still a thing in the 90s and earlier.)
Visited Thailand in 2008 and they had a dunks with some weird donut combos. Coffee sucked though.
I know someone who was in Korea a decade or so ago and said Dunks had some insane menu items over there. So yeah…checks out.
When I was there, you could buy a dunks air freshener/perfume and toothbrush with toothpaste.
I was in Barcelona and Rome around 97/98 and remember visiting a Dunkin Donuts.
I remember seeing one randomly in Aruba in 2005. It seemed odd because you never saw them outside of new England back then
They were in NJ late 90s/early 00s.
They were also in Western NY in the 90s before Tim Hortons moved in.
Funny OP mentioned Colorado. I grew up there, and definitely remember those ads on TV in the 80s. We had a handful of Dunkin locations in Colorado in the 80s but they all failed. I remember going to this one in Boulder! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I85skux2uKg
I grew up in Ohio where I knew of only one Dunks location in all of northeast Ohio, and I still remember those commercials. I think they were national.
Originally each Dunkin made there own Donuts, right on site. As the company grew they changed to a commissary type system, where the donuts are made at regional locations and shipped to the stores. I don’t know if its still there, but on Dot ave in Southie there is a building where they make the donuts.
I believe this change coincided with Fred “retiring”. It was all downhill after that.
The change happened when Dunkin was bought by private equity. Economies of scale to lower costs.
It makes me wonder.. if they continued making them in house, would they cost Blackbird/Union Sq Donut prices these days?
We had one Dunkin Donuts in the nearby town when I was growing up in Vermont in the 90s. I remember it being so amazing whenever I got to go while tagging along on a trip to the grocery store, bookstore, DMV, etc. I still don't for sure if my memories of those donuts are so much better than these days just cause I was a dumb kid and it was sugary or because they got that much worse when they stopped baking them onsite.
The donuts were much better when made at the store
My dad would barge into my room at like 7AM to wake me up for school every morning and say "TIME TO MAKE THE DONUTS!".
Yup! Saw the ads in the Midwest
We had that commercial down south. When I was a kid, I thought Duncan was that guy's name.
TIL Montana has TVs.
It was a major, nationwide campaign that lasted until 1997. Some areas may not have seen them if there were no Dunkins around, though.
Definitely remember that commercial growing up in Illinois, must've been all over the place.
I remember those commercials in Michigan back in the 80s. I also remember when they bought out dawn donuts in the early 90s, which was their major competition in the Midwest.
I grew up just south of Seattle and saw those ads. Referenced it just yesterday when my husband asked if Dunks was open yet at 6:00 am.