Dunkin’ Donuts Move Back To California After Nearly A Decade

Dunkin’ Brands Group will reportedly bring around 150 of Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants to Southern California by 2015.

The company is currently looking for franchisees to open restaurants in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, San Bernardino, Ventura, and Orange counties. According to Fox News, the idea is to have everything up and running within about two years.

The company said in a recent statement:

“We are delighted to begin 2013 with the long-awaited announcement that Dunkin’ Donuts will be opening restaurants in California, where there is already incredible passion for our brand. Expansion to California has always been part of our plan to grow Dunkin’ Donuts’ presence in the U.S.”

The Los Angeles Times reports that the company intends to move back to California in a big way in the near future. Once it has opened the doors of the 150 new locations, Dunkin’ Donuts intends to expand to nearly 1,000 restaurants around the state.

Reactions to the news have been a mixed bag. While some believe the restaurant could shutter some local businesses, other folks can’t wait until the new locations finally open their doors.

On Dunkin’ Donuts fan wrote on Twitter:

“I’ll be camping outside the LA Dunkin Donuts store like those Twihards camp … at a Twilight premiere. Dunkin’ Donuts is coming to Los Angeles which means I never have to go to New York again!”

According to The Huffington Post, Dunkin’ Donuts had closed most of its locations in the state by 1999. The company attempted a brief comeback in 2002.

However, the restaurant doesn’t just have its sights set on California. The company said it plans to open around 360 news locations across the United States this year. In 2012, nearly 300 new Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants popped up around the nation.

Are you a fan of Dunkin’ Donuts? Are you excited that the restaurant will be returning to California in 2015?