Does Joliet Have Enough Dunkin' Donuts Now? Ferak Column

JOLIET, IL — The large empty lot at Joliet's busy Six Corners intersection has come to life. In recent days, the Dunkin' Donuts restaurant has opened for business at the corner of Ruby Street and Raynor Avenue.

That means Joliet now has somewhere in the neighborhood of a few thousand Dunkin' restaurants spread across the city.

Last year, the Joliet City Council approved the construction of two Dunkin' restaurants. The other one opened in March at the new Lenny's Food N Fuel at Drauden Road and Theodore Street.

And now, the latest Dunkin' has opened on Raynor Avenue across from the CVS Pharmacy.

How many other Dunkin's does Joliet have?

On Monday, I spent a few minutes on the company website, and here's what I came up with:

• 1401 Route 59, inside the Walmart
• 5951 Theodore St., that's the new one that opened in March.
• 4708 Caton Farm Road
• 2959 West Jefferson St.
• 1350 Houbolt Road
• 3011 Plainfield Road
• 20 South Larkin Ave.
• 2401 South Chicago St.
• 422 South Chicago St.

Why do so many people go to Dunkin' for their coffee, especially in Joliet?

I don't have a great answer for you because I'm not necessarily one of their loyal customers. I typically get a coffee at a Dunkin' restaurant only a few times a year.

But now that the new Dunkin' opened in the Cathedral Area, I decided to find out whether this particular Dunkin' coffee was something magical.

On Monday, I pulled into the drive-thru lane at 11:02 a.m. There were two vehicles ahead of me. My order was simple: one medium coffee with cream and sugar. I think it cost about $2.50.

The two motorists ahead of me took a few minutes waiting for their orders at the drive-thru window. I noticed both of the customers ordered food along with a coffee.

I pulled up to the window at 11:08 a.m. A young woman at the Dunkin' drive-thru handed me my coffee within a matter of seconds of paying for it. I was on my way by 11:09 a.m.

Turns out, there was nothing remarkable about my Dunkin' coffee.

It wasn't bad. It wasn't great. It was ordinary.

What's Joliet's fascination with Dunkin'?

Maybe it's the donuts. Maybe it's the hot and fresh breakfast sandwiches. More than likely, I'm guessing it's the convenience and the familiarity with the product.

Now that Joliet's latest Dunkin' has opened, I'm sure it's going to be busy because all of Joliet's Dunkin's are busy.

As for me, you won't see my car clogging up the drive-thru lane at the newest location on Raynor Avenue. You also won't see me heading toward the Louis Joliet Mall where there's another Starbucks in the works.

Starbucks plans to tear down the empty Pier 1 Imports store and put a new drive-thru coffee shop in its place along Plainfield Road.

I plan to stick with getting my coffee at the Jitters Coffee House at 178 North Chicago St. And, in the coming weeks, I am looking forward to the chance to get a cup of coffee at the new Kafe De Kasa now that owners Johnny and Norma are expanding and opening another location, this one on the northern edge of downtown Joliet near the Niko's Pizzeria.