A Dunkin’ restaurant is expected to open in Festus in early spring, franchisee partner Michael Crouch said Tuesday (Dec. 15).
The 900-square-foot, drive-thru restaurant is proposed for a site on the northeast corner of the parking lot for the Festus Pointe retail complex along Hwy. A, next to I-55.
The complex already houses Jimmy John's and Cecil Whittaker's restaurants.
“I hope to have construction underway by late January and am targeting opening, hopefully, in late March to early April,” said Crouch, 46, of Cape Girardeau.
Even though the restaurant will not offer indoor dining, it would serve all the menu items available at full-service, walk-in Dunkin’ restaurants, including doughnuts, breakfast sandwiches, bagels, coffee and other items, he said
“In addition to drive-thru, it will have walk-up service available,” Crouch said.
Crouch estimated hiring 25 employees to staff the restaurant.
Crouch is one of four members of a Dunkin’ franchise group.
“I’m in charge of the ones in Missouri,” he said. “We have them in Cape Girardeau and Poplar Bluff, with about 30 others in Michigan and Ohio. We have an agreement with Dunkin’ to open seven more in Missouri in the next four years in St. Louis, Jefferson, St. Francois and Ste. Genevieve counties, maybe other (neighboring) counties. I have a location that just started construction in St. Louis County.”
The Festus restaurant advanced a step closer on Monday evening (Dec. 14) when the Festus City Council voted 7-0 to approve a "lot split" on the Festus Pointe property to allow for the project.
“I think, obviously, we love to add something new,” City Administrator Greg Camp said. “It gives people options. It’s also nice to see development on the west side of the interchange.”
Crouch said Festus is an attractive place to open a Dunkin’ restaurant, particularly the location next to I-55.
“I have some family who live in Festus,” he said. “The economy in Festus is growing, and it’s a very busy exit.”
Ward 2 Alderman Kent Wilkey did not participate in the meeting, in which some council members attended in person at City Hall and others participated virtually. The public is not allowed inside City Hall for meetings during the COVID-19 pandemic, but meetings are live streamed over YouTube.
