Piney orchard in Odenton is not a poor community..don't think they have a case. People in general are trying to eat better these days I think.

Personally, while there may be validity to some of their claims (I have no clue, so I am not discounting them), I believe their lack of profit was (and still is) due to horrible staff and customer service.
Since that location has opened I have yet to have an experience that didn't leave me frustrated. I think their staff is severly undertrained.
And, I know that at some point the location closed and opened up under new management, so regardless of who owned it, it has not been a location that I have ever received acceptable service at.

The service and quality of food there has always been less than desirable. If memory serves me correctly that was the time that the gas station also served bagels and such. That's what they get when they don't do their own due-dilegence and check out the neighborhood and projections. If Dunkin Donuts steered them wrong it had nothing to do with discrimanation because their black. Frankly I'm tired of hearing the race card being played. What does this couple have against opening up in low-income areas anyway? Whee they expecting to opne up in high-end white neighborhoods? How pathetic they are.

The service at this Dunkin Donuts was horrible, I actually stopped going there and I ended up going to the one down Route 3 (much better service, I am in and out)...this is not a racial issue as they are making it out to be (not surprised at all tired of the race card as well), maybe if they had good customer service they would still be in business today. Or we can blame Bush....LOL

Have to agree with Mary and Ronald. This Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin Robbins, no matter who owns it, is less then desirable. As Mary put it, I have never received acceptable service there. The staff either cannot understand what you are ordering - or you can't understand them - or the location does not have what you are ordering - donuts or ice cream!!! I was hoping when it reopened that it would be different, but don't see that.

Susan,
You mean to say I am not the only person who has gone there when they were open (and not just 5 minutes before closing) to be told "Um, we don't have any donuts".
That alone is reason why they might not be doing well.

Yep. This was just a crappy store.

My memory isn't foggy on this at all - it was a horrible experience going there when we first moved in. My gut reaction is these are owners who thought they could buy a franchise, hire some kids and count the money.

$15,000 projected weekly gross sales should have been easy to break down. I don't know the average order - but they do. Say it's $8 per person. That's serving over 1,900 a week or 271 per day. There's no way that place serves anywhere close to 270 per day.

Service has always been an issue there. I have taken the kids for a special treat and left with nothing out of frustration. We pass it and go to Crofton where service is much better. It's an extra 15 minutes away but worth the trip.

When you walk in and flies are all over the donuts may be another reason!!

I now this couple personally, and the article doesn't go into the real details of the case. Location was just part of it, but the franchise was required to do things are their end that wasn't done for these owners (but done for other owners). I hope it works out for them because they are good people.

I feel like I'm in the twilight zone! Maybe you folks should give the DD another chance. At least in the past 6 months or so, I've seen drastic improvements throughout this DD, in all areas! I have never, EVER been disappointed recently, and we go probably 2 times per week. I do remember when that DD sucked, bad...but honestly, I think it is doing much much better. But then again I was raised in a poor family and I don't expect perfection everywhere I go. Lots of silver spoon fed folks in PO? haha. Wow.

As far as the law suit by that couple...well, I'm just a bit tired of America's tendency to sue others at the drop of a dime. It's disgusting. I'm assuming these folks are the original owners? Either way, I agree with one of the other users...I think people are just attempting to eat better. DD has become more of a coffee provider for me, than anything else. My kids love the Munchkins...and I'm rambling. haha.

Still trying to figure out how a couple can claim racial discrimination, when they were given a Dunkin Donuts franchise in a predominantly white hood! haha. Weird.

Marc - yeah, I don't quite understand how they can claim DD was pushing them to own a franchise in a poorer area if they ended up in Odenton. That said, it would not surprise me if that particular store doesn't get the same level of sales as some others in the area. My sense is that the one up on 175 across from the base is busier because it's off the main road.

FWIW, I've always found the current owners and staff to be quite friendly and have never had a complaint there.

What? A business failed? Well you'd better find someone to blame (and sue), after all this is America! Check out John Stossel's "The Blame Game" from 1994. He explains it all.

I hope someone passes these coments on to DD Admiistrators for use in the law suit.

Are these the same people who went on vacation for a month in the middle of summer and closed the store.
Only to return to find out they had to keep paying rent and there bills.So they were evicted . Smart!

Didn't know Odenton was a poor neighborhood?

I think the service has improved with the new owners, but I always felt under the previous owners that they left a couple of teenagers to run the store, and we would go in the middle of the afternoon and there would be one kind of donut left. It certainly didn't instill a lot of confidence in me as to their management abilities. The one by Ft. Meade is wonderfully efficient and I don't have any problems, as busy as they are.

I too know the previous owners and I can assure you the problem of service were not during their ownership ( which was extremely brief). BTW, they never took a vacation during their ownership; and managed and operated the store themselves during their ownership, 7 days a week, open to close. This store has actually gone thru at least 4 different owners (at my last count) which probably accounts for a lot of the issues and bad service that this store has experienced. ..and I agree service there is horrible( but not during this couples ownership) . The reason this store's ownership has turned over so much is because it is in fact a "horrible location" for a dunkin donuts -- it simply does not meet the basic requirments for a "good" location for a dunkin...and yes the couple did its due dilegence on this location ( but this is where the dunkin lies began)...

....)... and yes, I agree that Piney Orchard is not a bad/poor area -- but pls keep in mind that these news stories only tell snippets of the story for brevity and leads to many inaccuracies because the "whole" story is that these owners actually owned other stores in communities that were clearly in " less desirable" (which are as well part of this suit). Again without knowing all the facts of this case, many of the above comments are way off base. ..but understandly since the article(s) leave out many pertinent facts of this case. That being said, regardless of how the facts appear to be presented in this brief article, Dunkin Donuts does have a long history of discrimnation against minorites (franchisees) so while many of you may find it hard to beleive or just a cop out, this is far from a frivilous suit. Dunkin needs tobe held accountable for their actions. Period!

I live right around the corner from the Piney Orchard DD, and I LOVE donuts, BUT, I almost never go to this one because I don't think they actually make the donuts there. They never seem to be "fresh and soft" as they are at other franchises where they DO make them. Do you ever SMELL the aroma of freshly made donuts there???? I don't. The donuts must be imported from another store where they DO make them fresh. This is probably the reason why they are "out of" certain kinds towards the end of the day. I can deal with inefficient, substandard service IF the food is GREAT! The donuts at the DD in Crofton on Rt. 3 in Crofton appear to be fresher, and THIS is the main reason I don't buy from the one in Piney Orchard.. Comments, anyone??

Dunkin has two types of stores, "retail-only" and "producer-retail". The first type buys donuts made at producer locations nearby in many cases from the same franchisee who has more than one store.

IMHO, good management of the retail stores and the supply chain is a necessary "ingredient" for success.

I dont know any of the parties involved but this snippet of an article paints the wrong picture about the people named and the issues surrounding this case. DD has about 6800 stores of which only 50 are owed by Blacks. What does this say about DD? You do the research and decide.

Hi
I'm not familiar with that location, but, reading through these posts and having owned a full service bakery during the 80's, the court needs to only read these comments to get a sense of what's the truth. Playing the "race card" is a cheap shot to cover up poor management and business practices. Hmmm?

From Reuters: "New Jersey Superior Court Monday, claiming they were "steered" by Dunkin away from their home in the New York/New Jersey area to open stores in less economically favorable areas in Maryland, where stores ultimately failed financially."

Odenton Statistics (2010 Census):
Population: 37,000 +
Average Median Income: $91,000
Average family household size: 2.70

Maryland Statewide Statistics (2010 Census):
Total Average Median Income: $84,140
Median (adjusted using 90% of a 3 person household) 2.7 person household: $76,134

New Jersey:
Statewide Median:
$84,406
Median 2.7 person household (same calculation as above):
76,249

I'm not a lawyer (although I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express) but these suits go nowhere. They signed a mountain of paperwork, most of which stated there was no guarantee of sales or income. Basically, you buy a franchise you're taking a huge risk.

Wow, a lot of discussion about a fast-food chain-store bakery! How 'bout eating some proper food, rather than all this crap - it's amazing how much money people (still!! in this economy!!) spend on fast food. Expanding their waist lines into the bargain!!

Lots of good information on this blog. I'm learning a lot.

Unfortunatly once a store gets a bad reputation it doesn't matter who the new owners are - few will give them a second chance. I still stop there when I want a drive through bagel with coffee. I am pretty sure they do not make their own donuts. Crofton is nice but I find them to be aloof and non-caring (as well as more expensive than other DDs). The one at Ft. Meade is by far the nicest. It is clean, fair, quick and good. I recommend it to anyone in the area. The one on route 3 south just before Upper Marlboro is also ver good.

All franchises steer people to locations that they (DD) want to expand into. It's business. The fact that more non-blacks own DD franchises than blacks is not a race issue - GROW UP - that's like me saying that more blacks own Kentucky Fried Chicken franchises - that would smell of racism. Due diligence means working your franchise and not just investing in a name much like the California Teachers Union that owns Waugh Chapel.

I will give the DD here another chance (or two) but playing the race card is still pathetic and I hope DD stands it's grounds and counter-sues for slander. I, for one, would be happy to testify about my experiences at this franchise if asked.

A fool and his (or her) money are soon parted. Bad investment - just move on.

Ditto. When you operate a place in an area like this you life or die on repeat business. This isn't a tourist destination.

When I come into anyone's place of business, if I'm treated like an imposition you'll never see me again. I expect a smile when I come in and a thank your or have a nice day when I leave.

Owners can't blame their employees either. Diligent owners train and monitor their employees to weed out the ones with bad attitudes quickly.

The Odenton Dunkin Donuts is the worst. The staff and customer service is awful. The donuts are not great. Shoppers donuts are far bigger better and cheaper. The ice coffee is all ice ! It is not worth it for all the aggravation.
As to the couple suing - they have nothing else they can base a case on. pathetic.

Try getting an ice cream there. The look you get is "oh great...now I have to scoop ice cream."

Nope. I'll drive to Brusters. They're happy to see me.

Family run business. Try getting a job there if you're not related. BUT the donuts and bagels are fresh and the coffee is good. If going past there I would stop in but now that I found the one close to Upper Marlboro the drive is worth waiting.

What/where is Brusters? I'm always looking for a good ice cream cone on a hot Sunday afternoon.

Again, without all the facts of this case, many of these comments are way off base..Again this article doesn't do justice what happene between Dunkin and this couple..Again, due dillegence was done for this site and that is directly related to the site requirement provided by Dunkin..which again is a large part of this case...so pls stop assuming it wasnt done which is why this is a major factor in this case. Also, pls stop assuming that racism doesn't not exist...There are legitimate discrimination cases out there and this is definately one of them. PERIOD!!!!!

Tracy. Not drawing conclusions. Just stating the obvious. Has a complaint been filed with the Justice Department or just the courts for monetary reasons. Isn't it racism to accuse someone else of racism because you made a bad financial decision. The only thing worse than racism is those that try and justify it. PERIOD!!! PERIOD!!!! PERIOD!!!!

See how good I spell as well. And stop slandering companies when you don't have all the facts either. How much time did they spend on site? How much did they put into training? Did they ever taste their own food? What did they do in order to verify what they were being told? Why DD instead of a different franchise? Sounds like you have a personal interest in all of this. Were you a silent partner? We all know racism exists. I just don't see it here and am sick and tired of have inferior products pushed on me and being called a racist if I choose not to buy them. The product line STUNK as did the service. That is the bottom line.

Are we all racists on this blog because we won't jump on your bandwagon of slander?

Ronald, Again, since I know the couple involved I am privy to info that was disclosed in the article. No, I am not a silent partner or have any financial attachment to this case. Again, as I stated above, these owners (unlike any of the owners that followed them at this store) were on site EVERYDAY, 7 days a week -- open to close -- that I can guarantee you. So again service/committment was not an issue during their brief ownership...but again, as someone stated above once a place gets a bad rep its a wrap despite all efforts often times. And yes they were fully trained by corporate (as mandated) and so was their staff. Unlike what you and others would like to think this case is not about money. There is something out there called principle. They actually walked away from this horrible situation given all their losses years ago but then more and more allegations of racism began to rise with Dunkin that is what sparked this case.. Trust me, if they walk with away with not one penny that would be just fine with them because it's about exposing Dunkin and hoping that what happened to them does not happen to another franchisee! And I do not know for a fact that is was as well filed with the justice department, but I would assume so since many remedies were attempted before this suit was filed.

Slander is spoken.
Libel is written.
Defamation occurs when one or both of the above have taken place.

Tracy, I'd love more information about this. Can you be a bit more specific as to the unfair treatment that resulted in lost income?

John, if you want more information, I suggest you read the filed complaint.

http://www.unhappyfranchisee.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/FINAL-COMPLAINT-SHETTY-PRETTO-SIGNED.pdf

John, Of course..One major area of contention has to do with what the franchisees were specifically informed during their due diligence from the brand...again, due dilegence has a lot to do with site requirements that are largely determined by the franchisors..Every brand has it own as does Dunkin. For example, what the site requirements are for a McDonalds are not the same as for a Dunkin...this is a major issue in this case this and but for this, this couple perhaps would not have been in the situation they found themselves. Also, the were specific assurances and requirment by the brand (many which were written in the franchise agreement) that the brand failed to comply with...these are things that the brand reguraly did for other non-black franchisees (things that often determine the success or failure of the biz) but not for this couple. When you buy a franchisee you do it with certain obligations from the franchisor, that is why they are often very costly to obtain. This couple held up to their end of the bargin but Dunkin did not and that is an undisputable fact. the only blood suckers here is Dunkin...Rather than them doing the right thing they are hoping that their high price lawyers with once again get them out of this mess they created. PERIOD!!!

I guess one thing I'd want to know is if the previous owners couldn't make it work here, how are the current owners doing? Because of Dunkin can prove in court that the current owners are basically doing fine, then that's likely game, set and match.

John, it is very simple...again this location has changed ownership at least 4 times...the original owners paid a premium for this site to get it built...almost a million dollars..the subsequent owners were sold this site directly from dunkin for pennies on the dollar. Even with that signifigant advantage the following owners have struggled with this site...hence the multiple owners in only a few short years..this site has never been a profitable site to the owners ..an even now its probably jus a write off to however owns it...since Dunkin probably gave it away to the current franchisee for almost nothin (yes they do that) who owns tons of other stores an can afford to keep it for other reasons and close it down if it comes to it an not even blink.

John - I tried Bruster's THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!

Definitly most excellent. I have a new place to go on Sundays.

LOL

Charles

OK. First of all I worked side by side with the original owners for a year 1/2 when they had these stores in 2005-2006 so if you did not patronize the stores during that time frame you know nothing about them. You guys are making accusations on an article from a person that didn't even interview or write the original piece. It is an opinion of what he got from what he read. I just want to say that it is sad we live in a country that if a person feels they were discriminated against we automatically dismiss it as being false or someone taking the easy way out. So when is it legitimate? When we feel it is or is not?

Like I said I know them very well and this is what happened. Just to paint a picture of who they are, both are from great backgrounds, lived in affluent neighborhoods, graduated from prestgious universities, and had six figure incomes they gave up to persue their american dream of ownership that turned out to be a nightmare. Not only did Dunkin promise them things they could not deliver when things got bad they bailed on them. They were required to open 3 location 1 full production and 2 satellites. Dunkin does all the site reviews and evaluations years before they offer locations to franchisees in areas they want to grow their business.

Not only were these projections far off they were false. There was a serious problem that the franchisees were not privied to that prevented the development of the primary production facility that Dunkin should have caught in their site review. This problem prevented development for almost a year on the location that was suppose to produce all the bakery for itself as well as the other 2 satellites. Dunkin forced them to open the other 2 locations anyway threatening a breach of agreement if they didn't meet the contract deadline. Now they had 2 locations that could not produce their own donuts and they were paying a premium for bakery from other franchisees to make donuts for them, having to buy a truck to pick them up because they were refused delivery, and not to mention 10's of thousands of dollars a month in loans for a location that was nowhere close to being developed. Every ounce of profit the stores made went to cover problems preventable by Dunkin.

They didn't sit around blaming Dunkin and did their best for a year and a 1/2 to stay afloat. They only asked Dunkin to help with their legal influence with the undeveloped site or find a franchisee who were in a better positin to purchase the location. DUNKIN DID NOTHING! It wasn't until they filed for bankruptcy that Dunkin swooped in aquired the properties and sold them at a profit. The Odenton store so far has changed hands 4 times and the Bowie store 3 times and finally shut down in 2010. If the site for full production that Dunkin promised such a prime location why til this day has not yet been developed?

I really like the Annapolis DD shop. The staff is courteous and very nice. I think each DD franchise is different from another. It all depends who owns the franchise. The race card is so tiring.