Dunn Brothers Coffee is a franchise company of
coffeehouses
A coffeehouse, coffee shop, or café is an establishment that primarily serves coffee of various types, notably espresso, latte, and cappuccino. Some coffeehouses may serve cold drinks, such as iced coffee and iced tea, as well as other non-caf ...
founded in
St. Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul (abbreviated St. Paul) is the capital of the U.S. state of Minnesota and the county seat of Ramsey County. Situated on high bluffs overlooking a bend in the Mississippi River, Saint Paul is a regional business hub and the center o ...
, in December 1987 by brothers Ed and Dan Dunn. As of December 2023, Dunn Brothers Coffee has 52 locations in Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, and Wisconsin.
History
The first store opened in 1987 at 1569 Grand Avenue in St. Paul, after the Dunn brothers had driven an old Dodge van loaded with their belongings from Portland, Oregon, to Minnesota in search of a good, underserved location for a coffee business. They found a refurbished 1950s Probat roaster in Cincinnati, Ohio, and used it to set up that first store. The second location opened in Uptown Minneapolis in 1991 (and was temporarily the only location while the Grand Avenue store was rebuilt following a 1991 fire). The Grand Avenue store still exists as "Dunn Bros Coffee" but is not part of the Dunn Brothers Coffee franchise.
On July 25, 2022, Dunn Brothers Coffee announced that it was acquired by Gala Capital Partners, owner of
Cicis Pizza
Cicis Pizza, formerly known as CiCi's Pizza and Cicis, is an American chain of buffet restaurants based in Coppell, Texas, specializing in pizza. The company was founded in 1985, and started franchising by 1987. In November 2015, the company beg ...
and
Mooyah
Mooyah (stylized as MOOYAH) is an American fast casual restaurant chain headquartered in Plano, Texas. The chain reached over 100 locations in 20 U.S. states and nine countries in 2016 in North America and the Middle East. They specialize in hamb ...
.
On July 10, 2023, Dunn Brothers Coffee appoints Scott Harvey as its new President. Previously holding roles at Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery, Einstein Bros. Bagels, and Black Rifle Coffee, Harvey brings a depth of knowledge in the restaurant and franchise space. In his role as President for Dunn Brothers, Harvey will take the helm of the brand's franchise development strategy, expanding its footprint in its existing Midwest and Great Plains markets, and beyond. With a new lens on franchising under Harvey's leadership, the brand will also implement its latest store prototype that includes a smaller footprint and a focus on drive-thru operations.
Franchise
The store's locations are primarily in the American
Midwest
The Midwestern United States, also referred to as the Midwest or the American Midwest, is one of four Census Bureau Region, census regions of the United States Census Bureau (also known as "Region 2"). It occupies the northern central part of ...
, especially Minnesota, where there are 31 locations. As of 2021, the company has stores in Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, and Wisconsin. Dunn Bros Coffee is a
franchise, and most stores are locally owned and operated. One distinguishing feature that separates Dunn Bros from most of its chain competitors is that at every traditional location the coffee is roasted right in the store, usually on a daily basis. This allows customers to buy freshly roasted whole beans. The in-store roasting and small batch sizes typically allow for the availability of 12-15 varieties of whole beans.
Dunn Bros partners with certifiers of sustainably grown coffee in the world including
Fair Trade USA, and
Rainforest Alliance
The Rainforest Alliance is an international non-governmental organization (NGO) with staff in more than 20 countries and operations in more than 70 countries. It was founded in 1987 by Daniel Katz, an American environmental activist, who serves ...
.
See also
*
List of coffeehouse chains
References
External links
Official websiteDunn Bros Grand Avenue (independent)
{{Fast-food chains of the United States
Coffeehouses and cafés in the United States
Companies based in Minneapolis
Coffee brands