Dawn Donuts is a
doughnut
A doughnut or donut () is a type of food made from leavened fried dough. It is popular in many countries and is prepared in various forms as a sweet snack that can be homemade or purchased in bakeries, supermarkets, food stalls, and franc ...
chain begun in
Jackson, Michigan
Jackson is the only city and county seat of Jackson County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 33,534, down from 36,316 at the 2000 census. Located along Interstate 94 and U.S. Route 127, it is approxi ...
. Although most of the chain was sold to
Dunkin' Donuts
Dunkin' Donuts LLC, also known as Dunkin' and by the initials DD, is an American multinational coffee and doughnut company, as well as a quick service restaurant. It was founded by Bill Rosenberg (1916–2002) in Quincy, Massachusetts, in 195 ...
in 1991, the bakery for the company's donuts remains operational, as do two locations in the Flint area.
History
Dawn Donuts was founded in Flint by franchise owner Arthur Hurand in 1958 with a store on Detroit Street in
Flint, Michigan
Flint is the largest city and seat of Genesee County, Michigan, United States. Located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit, it is a principal city within the region known as Mid Michigan. At the 2020 census, Flint had a population of 8 ...
.
In 1985, the chain unveiled a new store prototype for use at locations inside convenience stores, primarily
Amoco
Amoco () is a brand of fuel stations operating in the United States, and owned by BP since 1998. The Amoco Corporation was an American chemical and oil company, founded by Standard Oil Company in 1889 around a refinery in Whiting, Indiana, a ...
gas stations. At this time, the chain consisted of over 60 stores, and was owned by Arthur's son, Gary.
Dunkin' Donuts
Dunkin' Donuts LLC, also known as Dunkin' and by the initials DD, is an American multinational coffee and doughnut company, as well as a quick service restaurant. It was founded by Bill Rosenberg (1916–2002) in Quincy, Massachusetts, in 195 ...
announced plans to buy the chain in 1991. Most of the locations were converted to Dunkin' Donuts, but that chain also sold the right to the Dawn Donuts name to
Dawn Food Products, a Jackson bakery. They also allowed individual franchises to keep the Dawn Donuts name. At the time of the buyout, Dawn Donuts had 59 stores in the state, and all but eight were slated to convert to Dunkin' Donuts. 23 of the stores were owned by the Hurand family at the time. The conversion doubled Dunkin Donuts' presence in Michigan. Arthur Hurand died in 2012 at age 95.
One of the two remaining locations, on Clio Road in Flint, was rebuilt in 2013 as a new store combined with a
Subway.
See also
*
List of doughnut shops
Doughnut shops (also spelled donut shops) specialize in the preparation and retail sales of doughnuts. A doughnut is a type of fried dough confectionery or dessert food. The doughnut is popular in many countries and prepared in various forms as a ...
References
{{Fast-food chains of the United States
Companies based in Genesee County, Michigan
1958 establishments in Michigan
Bakeries of the United States
Restaurants established in 1958
1991 mergers and acquisitions
Doughnut shops