Aurora is about to become ground zero for Colorado coffee runs. A drive-thru-only Dunkin is slated to open at 270 S. Havana Street, with a grand-opening celebration set for Saturday, June 13, 2026. Built around mobile and drive-thru pickup instead of indoor seating, the next-generation shop is geared to keep morning commutes and quick errands moving. Owners Katy and Jake Gdowski are folding the store into their Red Mountain Company portfolio and expect to hire around 15 crew members.
About the Aurora opening
According to 9NEWS, the Aurora spot will be the Gdowskis’ fifth Dunkin location in Colorado and will run daily from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. "We look forward to serving the Aurora community with the same Dunkin’ favorites guests know and love through a more efficient, on-the-go experience," Katy Gdowski told 9NEWS. The outlet reports the grand opening celebration is on the books for June 13.
From car wash to coffee pickup
Permitting and leasing records show the site at 270 S. Havana, once home to the Shiny Happy Car Wash, is set to be demolished and rebuilt as an approximately 1,000-square-foot Dunkin with a drive-thru and a walk-up window, WhatNow Denver reports. The publication notes franchisee Jake Gdowski is listed on the project application, and that the plan has moved through Aurora’s review cycles as fees have been paid. The redevelopment fits the stretch of Havana Street that has been shifting toward compact, car-oriented pads.
What “next generation” means
Dunkin’s Next Generation stores are designed as digital-first spaces, with integrated mobile ordering, dedicated pickup areas, and streamlined drive-thru lanes that the company says emphasize speed, efficiency, and convenience. The brand has laid out those features in its rollout materials and press coverage of Next Gen openings, positioning the format as a faster option for customers on the move, per Dunkin. For Aurora commuters, that likely translates to shorter waits and fewer tables than in a traditional shop.
Local context
The Aurora location slots neatly into a broader Front Range shift toward drive-thru-first prototypes. Earlier this spring, Hoodline spotlighted Denver’s first all-drive-thru Chick-fil-A, part of a larger wave of chains testing smaller, car-focused footprints and app-centered pickup lanes. The report noted developers have been carving out pads to capture commuter traffic, and the new Dunkin appears to follow that same Havana Street playbook. The Aurora site adds one more quick-service pickup option to an already busy commercial corridor.
Opening day and jobs
The Aurora Dunkin is scheduled to open on June 13 with a ribbon-cutting and community celebration, and franchisees say it will operate from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily while creating about 15 local jobs. Those interested in working at the shop can keep an eye on the chain’s location listings and local job postings as opening day approaches. We will follow up with details from the grand opening and any promotions the operators decide to roll out.
