It's (Almost) Time to Make the Donuts in the West End

Story by Jeff Lipton

While a new 7-Eleven is in the midst of construction on West Beech Street, down the block a property is being prepared to install another national chain store.  

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Permits are in the process of being issued to the owner of the planned Dunkin' Donuts, at the site of the former West Beech Beverage, at 1070 West Beech St., said Scott Kemins, the city’s building commissioner.

Kemins said the Dunkin' Donuts slated to be built is an “allowable use” and will not require any variances.

“The structure they are building conforms to all zoning codes,” said Kemins, who added that the new owners also own a Dunkin' Donuts in Lawrence. 

Luisa Dutra, who would operate the shop with her husband John, said Long Beach is a perfect location for a Dunkin Donuts.

“It’s a nice location,” she said. “Long Beach needs a family place like this. We want to make it a family friendly place.”

She hopes that the new location would become a drive-thru, as well as kosher-certified like their shop in Lawrence, but said it was too soon to talk about an opening date.

“Truthfully, it is going to create jobs and you can never have enough of those,” said Dutra, who lives in Atlantic Beach. 

Kemins said the building was vacated in January 2011 when the beverage distributor moved across the street. He said he received an application for the donut shop on April 18 and the former structure was knocked down.

Kemins said the city is trying to be as helpful as possible in Sandy’s aftermath.