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, 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 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, 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
Franchise may refer to:
Business and law
* Franchising, a business method that involves licensing of trademarks and methods of doing business to franchisees
* Franchise, a privilege to operate a type of business such as a cable television p ...
, 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
Fair Trade USA, formerly "TransFair USA", is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that sets standards, certifies, and labels products that promote sustainable livelihoods for farmers and workers and protect the environment.
About
Founded in 19 ...
, and
Rainforest Alliance.
See also
*
List of coffeehouse chains
This list of notable coffeehouse chains catalogues the spread and markets share of coffeehouses world-wide. This list excludes the many companies which operate coffeeshops within retail establishments, notably bookstores and department stores, o ...
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