DUNKIN DONUTS - Life in America 

I made a fair living, cutting doughnuts.. Started in 1973 and baked for 19 years, collectively.. Even called out retirement, a few times.. I was happy.. I loved the faces in the kids and adults alike.. Nothing was more rewarding than to offer a hot fresh honey dip, to a child, on Saturday morning.. Good Lord, I do miss those days..!

I worked the morning shift for DD in the 70’s as a teenager. The smell of freshly made doughnuts was heavenly. One of my jobs was to insert the different fillings. I loved working there 😊

I could listen to your calming voice talk about donuts for the rest of time.

Dunkin Donuts and the Sunday paper in the 'burbs of NY early 70s when Dad would have them ready for us in the kitchen along with the funny pages every Sunday. Memories...

Two of my daughters worked at Dunkin’ Donuts in high school. They’re in their 40s now and they still drink the coffee

I grew up mainly in the NE of the USA and Dunkin Donuts was a hit with us and an extra treat! I remember one time they were giving out Chuck Conners (Rifleman) pictures and mama sure did visit Dunkin Donuts quite a bit to ensure each of us kids had one. Oh, we loved when mama surprised us and told us we were headed there (this was in the late 60s - 70s). When daddy got out of the service, we moved to his home town in SE TN where (at the time) there were no Dunkin Donuts. So, I did not get any for years. When I went in the service in the late 70s, after my training (after boot camp), I went to visit my sister in FL. I was driving along a busy thoroughfare when the corner of my eye caught . . . DUNKIN DONUTS! Dang it all - I did a U-Turn right there! (I made sure it was safe) and headed right to it! I was a happy girl!

I think DD was a big part of the whole idea of cops and donuts. The association started because donut shops were often the only places open for them to take their break way back before the 24 hour economy we have now.

Back in the early 70s , Dunkin coffee could NOT be beat. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

Dunkin' definitely has better coffee than Starbucks, in all ways. From regular black coffee to espresso to the fancy cups.

One thing I sorely miss since retiring in 2015, picking up a Dunkin coffee and 2 apple-filled donuts on the way to the office (in downtown Pittsburgh) almost every morning. I tried Starbucks, once was enough!

Not to date myself, I still say "time to make the donuts" as I go to/start work.

My first job out of high school .I was the baker and I put a lot of care into making the donuts. Now, they are made by machines at central locations and shipped to the individual stores. Not the same donuts anymore.

When I was a child, Dunkin Donuts was a staple for our Sunday morning breakfast before church. I have not been to a location in years but I really did love their donuts, I was too young for their coffee but my parents would get me a hot chocolate. It was a highlight of the weekend.

I go to Dunkin Donuts when I'm out of coffee or need a midday boost when I'm on the road but I miss the local mom-and-pop bakery. I have fond memories of getting my morning éclair when I was a paperboy in exchange for a daily newspaper. The baker was the only one beside me working in the area at 5 A.M. and it was a great treat to enjoy as I made my way to the first house on my route. I'm sure locally owned bakeries still exist but there are none near me. I will give Dunkin the nod over Starbucks which I have never liked but that's me.

Dunkin's coffee can't be beat. Starbucks is all about snobbery and high priced euro style bitter coffee. Pity that Dunkin doesn't make the donuts at each location any more. They are made in a central kitchen and trucked in. They simply are not as good.

I grew up in Massachusetts, so I always had a Dunkin near by. I remember in 3rd grade, going to one for a field trip with my class back in the 1970s. Thanks for the memories.

I remember going to my local Dunkin Donuts, when I was growing up, and actually watch the donuts being made. Loved it. Back in the day.

I swear the picture at 3:16 was the Dunkin Donuts by me when I was a kid back in the 70's, right down to that pink Mustang in the parking lot. It belonged to a neighbor, and it was her pride and joy. That picture is exactly how I remember it.

I love the DD coffee. It was my first job while I was in high school. I remember the plain donuts with the handle. My dad’s favorite. I miss the counters and the ceramic cups. Coffee in the early 80’s at the counter was 42 cents a cup with tax. It’s also where I met my late husband, the love of my life, over 30 years ago.

I got news for DD. "Time to make the donuts" is still said today. It simply means, time to go to work.

In my old neighborhood in National City, California, there's s doughnut shop called Sunny's, which is, in reality, a repurposed Dunkin Donuts. It even uses, Dunkin Donuts recipes for their doughnuts!

I think a big reason they started focusing on coffee (which is freshly made and good) is that the donuts are no longer good. They used to be made in individual locations. Now there are a few distribution centers that truck them over to the stores. Even early in the morning they taste stale.

Thank you for these narrated reminiscences of Life In America! I have watched many episodes, and I appreciate your unbiased approach to recalling many of the simple elements in American life. Many of us enjoy the opportunity to look back to what was so near and dear, so long ago.

For the locals, it was "Dunks" or "Dunkie." And from one who lived there, for 18 years, it's "Quin-ZEE."😃

I was born and lived near Quincy Mass. I'm pretty sure my parents bought some donuts at the original store.

Used to love Mr. Donut. They got bought out by Dunkin and the donuts went downhill.

I don't like coffee, so it's all about the donuts for me. The donuts are not as good as they were before they focused all of their attention to sandwiches, but the taste is still unique.

I knew about Dunkin' Donuts, of course. But, I did not know about their past history. Thank you for sharing that!

Those were the days! Why did this vision of quality-of-life as seen in the 60’s have to end? Sorry, Krispy, your stuff just doesn’t cut it…. If people really want to “MAGA”, then bring back doughnuts, coffee shops with waitresses that served food, gas stations that fill uo your tank, check your oil, and clean your windshield at no extra charge, and finally, banks who pay decent interest again more than just 97 cents per year. Lets start with the doughnuts, please…

Where I grew up in San Jose CA there was only the one on Winchester Blvd. Mostly the city was a Winchell's Donuts town, but it was a nice alternative every so often and I loved the large variety of different jelly fillings Dunkin offered.

Best memories of my life! I grew up in the 80s right behind the very 1st one. My bus stop was in front of it. It's been 30 years since I've been in Quincy. Still a die hard Dunkin fan. Daily

I don't know if you have actually been in a Dunkin Donuts lately (ever?) but the 55 donut varieties went out years ago. Selection is very limited, it's more like the 5 that everyone else was doing when they started.

Growing up in Mass. I think Dunkin Donuts, like most things nowadays, was better decades ago. The donuts used to be made at the store, fresh daily, not anymore.

I really enjoy your work, thank you.

Being a native Bostonian, Dunkin has always had my heart.

I miss when DD had fresh donuts made daily; these days they are made in a commissary and come in frozen to be reheated at many if not most locations they have these days. The one near me only has one small case of a handful of different kinds of donuts anymore, so I really don't go there anymore.

In the 70s, getting a box of Dunkin was a big treat. Dunkin quality has taken a slide in the past years. Their donuts are horrible when they used to be delicious.

Yes, Sam Breakstone also worked for Dunkin Donuts.

In the late 70’s I was in the hospital for a month in traction with a ruptured disc in my back. One of my friends would come and visit several times a week. Each time he came he would bring 2 large coffees from Dunkin Donuts.

There is one opening up right down the street from me this spring, looking forward to checking it out.

Dunkin' Donuts used to be my favorite donut vendor, but then they stopped making the donuts fresh in each location and now ship them in from a factory. Definitely not the same.

Within a month's time moving to Quincy, Massachusetts, I had the pleasure of going to the Dunkin Donuts built upon the site of this original store. It was nice being on the spot where this business started.

I remember growing up in the 70's on the south side of Jacksonville FL, where there was a Dunkin and Krispy Kreme next door to one another, only separated by a street. Dunkin Doughnuts were so delicious then. Dunkin don't taste as good now.

When I came to Cape Cod in 1967 a dozen doughnuts was 79 cents, now one is more.

Born and raised in the Boston, Ma. / New England area. Dunkin' Donuts is an iconic staple of "Northeast" sweetness. As a kid, if you were lucky enough to have one local. There was nothing better then having a relative stopping by, and having that cardboard box lined up with a variety of sugar happiness. Fifty plus years later, and I'm STILL enjoying a piece of my childhood memories. Now it's more for the JAVA. Ya know.........Dude has to look out for his "waistline." Lol!!! 🤘🏻😄☕☕🍩🍩🍩☕☕😉🤘🏻

This answered my question of whatever happened to Mr. Donut. Now I know. Thank you. By the way, am I the only one who pauses on the street scenes to look at everything in the background? Very cool video!

My favorite coffee. No close by franchises though. I highly recommend Bill Rosenberg's autobiography that covers the start of Dunkin as well as his other businesses and hobbies.

I love Dunkin Doughnuts with all those flavors/ varieties to choose from

I remember back in the 70's we had a Dunkin Donuts on one of the main streets leading to TCU called Berry St. As teens we used to drive up and down Berry on Friday and Saturday night. And after the inevitable gorging at the Jack in the Box or Whataburger, the inevitable sweet tooth could only be satisfied by half a dozen Dunkin Donuts! Thanks again for the fond memories!

I was in the Navy on the east coast in the late 70s. I loved Mr. Donut and Dunkin Donut shops. The crew I was on would get off work around 2am and we would head off base to the Mr. Donut. If you got a red star on your receipt, you got a free dozen!

Wonderful memories of my childhood in Detroit.

I would bring in a dozen every now and then at the office before I retired. Such a little thing brought smiles to peoples faces. Good times.

Dunkin' Donuts was weird for years in the UK, they never had stores, just solely operated out of food trucks at markets/flea markets Etc. but then disapeared. They came back a few years ago after the huge success Krispy Kreme had when they came to the UK, but aside from one store in London (Baker Street (Can't imagine why they chose there :D)) All their stores are up North.

I've been dining at Dunkin Donuts for many years. I also enjoyed their commercials from the 1970s tothe present on tv.

I remember,a Dunkin Donuts 🍩 😋, TV commercial from back in the day. There was a Baker,waking up early every morning 🌄. And, the Baker would say Time to make the Donuts 🍩. The old Dunkin Donuts, that was located on Gratiot and East Outer Drive in Detroit, Michigan is a Coney Island. The Dunkin Donuts located on Harper and 9 Mile Road in St.ClairShores, Michigan is a Independent Bakery and Restaurant.

Having crossed the 'pond' many times since the 1970s, I find your histories of US life and changing businesses particularly interesting, especially as nothing stands still for long. Well done and Thank you.

My grandmother worked at the Dunkin’ Donuts on Delaware in Kenmore in the 70s. Loved going there to pick her up and spinning around on the counter chairs. Loved it. That DD is gone but so is Gram. Great memory though.

Dunkin Donuts was a part of my growing up as a kid in the 60's and 70's. They've been through a few changes but still offer a great cup of coffee and your choice of donuts. Really great memories of Dunkin Donuts and now I take my grandchildren....

I was hoping you would do a Dunkin Donuts 👍👍 Back in the 70's and early 80's was my best recollection before the Baskin Co. bought them. I miss a lot of their donuts flavors, especially the Dutch Crumb donut ☹

I have so many memories of my father stopping at Dunkin Donuts growing up.

I remember as a kid asking my mom the flavor I wanted, Boston cream!I still go to the veteran restaurants, Friendly's, IHOP, Dunkin,dairy Queen I was just 3,great times then

The DD at 3:07 looks so much like the one at the X in Springfield, Ma. I remember sitting at the counter and drinking the coffee out of ceramic mugs, I miss those days.

I've never had one of their donuts, but the coffee is awesome.

When I was a kid, I use to go to a Dunkin Donut when they use to make the donuts. He would always give me a couple munchkins while I was deciding on what I wanted. Also Dunkin Has the best coffee so far, way better than Starbucks. Thanks for sharing

When we lived in Maryland, every Friday night in the summer, the neighbors would get together for some steamed crabs, then after, someone would run to Dunkin Donuts for some strawberry short cake donuts. The best! Today we have a DD down the street from us, and have been there once. The donuts were half cooked and stale. So no more!

1960's Anderson Indiana - we could watch the donuts being made through a pane of glass. It was a thrill to watch this as a kid.

I worked at DD in high school in the 80’s and loved it. I worked the front mostly but when I got to help fill and decorate the doughnuts that was the most fun. The hardest part of the job was resisting the donuts!😊

I remember years ago when in high school, we'd sometimes walk a few blocks to get a hot soup lunch at Dunkin Donuts. They had (still have?) more than just donuts and coffee.

I remember when I was a young kid in Massachusetts,"Roslindale" in the late 1970's going with my dad to Dunkin and sitting at the bar"Spinning in the stools " ,having a donut and hot chocolate. I loved the old diner look of the place and esp the white ceramic cups you used to get. I am a frequent flyer at the Dunkin in Rhode Island now ..lol😅☕🍩 I much prefer it over Starbucks anyday,although if I want to be bougie I'll get a sugary small latte there occasionally.

I had been a full supporter of Dunkin' for many years. I love the expansion they've been doing recently, but I long for the days of going to a Dunkin' to see donuts being made and sitting at the counter with a hot cup of coffee and a fresh and warm donut to get my day started. It's very different nowadays, but I still love Dunkin', and always will.

My grandfather used to run a doughnut and coffee shop back in the 50's around Quincy. He knew the owners of "Open Kettle"- Dunking doughnuts. He left the business, but kinda neat that he knew them.

There’s one walking distance from my house.

As a kid my Mom used to take me to Dunkin' Donuts all the time. They eventually closed the stores here but I never forgot them. Then a few years ago they opened new stores here. One right next door to the old one Mom took me to. I was able to take her there a couple of times before she passed away. While it wasn't quite the same it was still nice.

I LIVE IN LOS ANGELES... HOW ABOUT DOING WINCHELL'S DONUTS AND A&W ROOT BEER STAND 👍

In the late 60's as a kid we used to stop by on Sundays after church and watch the Baker make doughnuts! Some how I remember that they tasted soooooo much better than they do now! Haven't been to a Dunkin' doughnuts in many years. Nothing ain't what it used to be.... 😢

I miss Dunkin in the late 70's early 80's. The donuts were baked in house. So much better than now. Seems to be the trend with everything. I miss those days.

i used to like dunkin donuts until i moved to florida in the early 70s and found krispy kreme

I was born in 1991 and grew up in New York and Georgia, so Dunkin' has always been very present in my life. Imagine my surprise when, on a trip to Seattle last year I open my Dunkin' app to find that there are no locations within 50 miles! It completely makes sense in an area so dominated by its native son, Starbucks, but it was still very surprising to me.

The greatest for me was finding a Dunkin Donuts in Japan in 1987. We in Germany did not have them in Hamburg yet. When I was in Berlin, Germany, I brought some back to my home in Hamburg. And I was not the only one. They are now in Hamburg, but not all varieties are available.

1963 store design in the midwest was iconic. The winters were hard and the donuts were fresh and tender with lots of flavors. The windows were always steamy and policemen were welcomed with a cup of coffee each night to stay warm. Sunday mornings you learned to ride your bike with a dozen donuts. Lots of memories.

Hmmm the late 90’s and early 2000’s were interesting for DD. One you had Starbucks coming from one side and Krispy Kreme from the other but DD weathered the storm

I don't remember ever going to a Dunkin' Donuts - but the slogan "Time To Make The Donuts" became part of our EVERYDAY language in our house when I was growing up ... Ma thought the commercials were so funny, that she would stop whatever she was doing to watch them even if she were ironing one of my dad's good work shirts!

Coffee and a donut for just 15 cents. Wow those really were the days!

I grew up in Massachusetts with Dunkin Donuts but I've lived here in Japan for a long time, and Mister Donut is a major chain here. I had never heard of it so when I first came here I just assumed it was a Japanese company. Then I started hearing from my students that it was an American company from Boston which surprised me, but hearing this history and how dominant Dunkin was and is it's no surprise that I never saw one growing up...

Last year, after getting fasting lab work done, I stopped at a dunkin doughnuts to get some breakfast, particularly an apple fritter, a cinnamon roll and an ice coffee, because that while I had their coffee, I have )MEVER) eaten their doughnuts! So, I was pleasantly supprised!

This video is a BRILLIANT training exercise for any small business owner, or marketing student! It subtly touches Many fine but important points. The student needs to listen carefully and then emulate / apply it to their particular enterprise.

Love this channel

The store shown at 1:07 (and different shots for the next 30 seconds) was the 2nd store and their 1st franchise. It was in my hometown Worcester Massachusetts (Park Ave & Mill St.), I'd been in there many times in it's 50 years there. A few years ago they finally closed that location opening one a short distance away with easier access, better parking and a drive thru..

My first job was working at Dunkin Donuts when I was 16 years old in 1990...on the weekends I would work the overnight shift 10 to 6 a.m.... it was interesting serving so many drunk people... it was a blast I miss those times

I was always a Wnchell's Donuts guy. So. California area. 30 miles east of Los Angeles. I nevernoticed Dunkin' until maybe 15 years ago.

I went to Dunkin' Donuts when I was little. It was in West Palm Beach, FL.It was good. Dunkin' has iced coffee. I still go to Dunkin' near where I live.

One of my only memories of a fully branded Dunkin' Donuts was an early morning trip to one in the Portland, Oregon area that had a fish tank in it with some really big fish. Dunkin' Donuts eventually left the Pacific Northwest and we ended up with all our Dunkin' Donuts stores either closing or going independent and keeping the old Donuts part of the the Dunkin' Donuts sign. I remember going to one called Cafe 'n Donuts that was a Baskin Robins and a former Dunkin' Donuts in one, there was another that became Midway Donuts which in the last 9 years started also started selling Gyros which seemed odd but worked. I really miss the fun colors of the Pink and Orange that Dunkin' Donuts had and always loved going in to their stores for a doughnut before a long family drive or a trip to go see family. They used to be every where here but now they are gone and the closest ones are in California. We do still have some of our old Dunkin' Donuts under there current independent brand, so it's still fun to visit these locations and think about what it would be like if they were still a Dunkin'

"Fresh to your home from ours, fresh every four hours" Dunkin' Donuts radio jingle.

Donuts were big ideas after WW2 and in WW2 , it was a quick idea to get your coffee and a donut quick and easy in the 50s....... In our family if you visited a friends house, You didn’t come empty handed, Donuts were ideal.

The original Dunkin' Donut store in Quincy is still there and about two blocks from where my 93 y/o mother is living in a Senior Home. Growing up on the South Shore of Massachusetts DD was part of our regular routine and, now, buying some of their doughnuts and coffee to bring to Mom when we visit is - can I say? - obligatory. Starbucks borrowed its' name from the novel, Moby Dick, but Dunkin' is an original.

Thanks for sharing👌

I worked at a DD as a teen in the 70's - baked brownies, and the best donut ever - the french crueller, best eaten still warm with the icing just starting to harden, washed down with a root beer - good times

Dunkin has always been my choice over Starbucks. But in the 70-80's it couldn't be beat.

I grew up with DD and my favorite cup is a old fashioned Dunkin's mug and of course Dunkin Munchkins!

I remember a dunkin on 82nd avenue in Portland Oregon . Unfortunately there are no dunkins in the state anymore .