A familiar Skokie caffeine stop is trying to jump corners. A local Dunkin' and Baskin-Robbins franchise has asked village officials for permission to move its downtown coffee shop across the intersection into the long-vacant former 7-Eleven at 8357 Skokie Boulevard.
If approved, the corner would get a full makeover: a co-branded Dunkin' and Baskin-Robbins with a drive-thru, outdoor seating, and an indoor sit-down area. The project is now in the village review pipeline and will need zoning changes and public hearings before any construction crews roll in.
According to a public notice from the Village of Skokie, the application was filed by Reena Panjwani Khowaja as contract purchaser for Panjwani Network Inc. The filing asks for a zoning map amendment, a change to the retail-street designation, and a special-use permit for a limited-service restaurant with a drive-through at 8357 Skokie Boulevard.
The request landed on the Plan Commission agenda last Thursday under cases 2026-06P, 2026-07P, and 2026-09P. The notice states that the operator intends to renovate the existing building and fold in a Baskin-Robbins as part of the redevelopment.
As reported by What Now Chicago, the new shop would replace the current Dunkin' at 8408 Skokie Boulevard and finally add the drive-thru and outdoor dining that the existing store does not have. The franchisee told reporters the store and drive-thru are planned to operate from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, though there is no opening date on the calendar yet. The site sits on the southeast corner of the intersection, next to Pho Phu Linh and near Sarra Grill.
Who’s Behind the Move
Panjwani Network, led by Reena Panjwani Khowaja, describes itself as a family-run Dunkin' operator with multiple locations in Skokie and across the North Shore. The group already has a history of betting big on drive-thru traffic.
In 2022, the company pushed a major overhaul of the Dunkin' at 5150 W. Touhy, expanding the building and adding dual drive-thru lanes to adapt to shifting customer habits. Local coverage documented the Touhy rebuild and the franchise's argument that drive-thru service became essential after the pandemic, as reported by Patch.
What Happens Next
Nearby residents were notified about the proposal, and the project letter says the applicant held two outreach sessions at the existing Skokie Boulevard Dunkin' earlier this month. Those informal chats are just the warm-up.
The Plan Commission will issue a recommendation, the Appearance Commission may get a look at the design, and the Village Board will have the final say on whether the corner gets its coffee-and-ice-cream makeover.
For residents who want to weigh in, case materials and instructions for public comment are available through the Village of Skokie. The project notice spells out how to submit feedback by email or traditional mail.
