Dunkin' celebrates Bronx community with free coffee giveaway and charitable donation

You get to meet so many people and learn about their lives behind the counter; it really feels like you’re part of a little Riverdale family.”

Caitlin Rodriguez, Dunkin' manager

Move in any direction long enough in an American city or suburb and you’ll spot a familiar flag of orange, magenta and brown, a fluffy typeface — or maybe first, you’ll hear the resounding mantra of ‘America runs on ___’ .

As the largest chain coffee shop in both the city and borough, Dunkin’ boasts 95 locations in the Bronx, far surpassing Starbucks, which has approximately only a dozen outlets. This ubiquity has solidified Dunkin’ as a longstanding staple within the community. Even Bronx-born rapper Ice Spice was a regular at the Dunkin’ on Fordham Road, where a mural was dedicated to her last year.

The Dunkin’ at West 235th Street honored its most loyal customers with a giveaway of 100 days of free coffee to celebrate a recent next-gen redesign. The first 100 patrons on July 16, starting from 9 a.m., qualified to receive a free medium hot or iced coffee for the next 100 days.

Guests had to be over 18 and a Dunkin’ Rewards member to be eligible.

Throughout the morning, guests can also spin a prize wheel for free merchandise and perhaps witness a check presentation by the store’s franchise network, BMD Management North, LLC, to benefit the greater community.

In partnership with the Dunkin’ Joy in Children Foundation, Dunkin’ intends to donate $3,000 to the Children’s Hospital of Montefiore. This teaching hospital, located off the southeast corner of Van Cortlandt Park, is nationally lauded for its specialized treatment of children and adolescents, providing critical healthcare to 9,000 young patients each year.

Dunkin’ franchisee Bret Lowery expressed his enthusiasm for this cause.

“We are proud to support the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore and underscore the importance of an organization that provides essential care to children throughout the Bronx and New York City,” he said.

This contribution aligns well with the store’s ethos, as many kids from the nearby Riverdale Kingsbridge Academy, looking for a place to hang out after school, were some of the earliest enthusiasts of the West 235th Street Dunkin’. The store opened in 2014 to much fanfare from the neighborhood, and only slight brow furrowing from devotees of the Starbucks across the street. 

Its latest redesign, which spanned from mid-May of this year to early July, has reduced the store’s square footage from 1,250 square feet to 900 feet and optimized it for a team of 15 crew members. Key aesthetic updates include an ordering kiosk and a more open layout, incorporating new colors and materials to cultivate a welcoming, positive and vibrant atmosphere.

While menu items have remained unchanged, upgrades to espresso machines and the crew’s cold beverage tap system have introduced higher-quality technology to enhance flavor and ensure consistent temperature.

Manager Caitlin Rodriguez, who has been with the store for five years, said since the redesign, the store has seen a significant influx of new customers and received constant positive feedback. 

The store primarily serves a local clientele, many of whom visit daily and are on a first-name basis with the crew. 

“You get to meet so many people and learn about their lives behind the counter,” Rodriguez said. “It really feels like you’re part of a little Riverdale family.”

Rodriguez said through the shop she met her friend Krisly, who became a regular while working at Menchie’s frozen yogurt shop around the corner. Krisly said the community feeling was one reason to prefer Dunkin’, as are the ongoing global boycott of Starbucks and what Krisly said is the donut chain’s superior matcha latte.

Another frequent customer suggested the split between those who walk the Dunkin’ side of the street opposed to Starbucks is in the friendliness of the staff.

Despite Dunkin’s “run in/run out” branding on window advertisements, Rodriguez said customers tend to take off their coat and stay a while. 

Adam, a self-professed regular, mentioned the inviting atmosphere made him prefer spending an afternoon at Dunkin’ over the library, especially after discovering they serve decaf coffee.

Customer Steven Balter said he is partial to Dunkin’s iced coffee and Munchkin donut holes when his kids join him. He commended the chain’s investment in the community’s retail space, noting the area’s predominantly residential nature and the need for more supportive retail options.

“So, to the extent that landlords are willing to put in money to make nicer spaces for us,” he said, “we really appreciate it.”