Woodhaven got a freshly remodeled Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins back on the map this month, and the Jamaica Avenue shop celebrated with a ribbon-cutting, free coffee, and ice cream scoops priced at a nostalgic 31 cents apiece. The renovated store at 84-13 Jamaica Ave. reopened its doors on Nov. 4, pulling in local officials and plenty of sugar-seeking neighbors for the occasion.
According to QNS.com, Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins leadership were joined at the ceremony by New York State Sen. Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., officers from the 102nd Precinct, and representatives from Queens Community Board 9 and the Queens Chamber of Commerce. The turnout underscored how much a neighborhood coffee-and-ice-cream stop can double as a civic gathering spot, even for a chain location.
A Bigger, Greener Storefront
The newly remodeled location spans 1,500 square feet and employs 15 crew members, per the outlet's report. It's open every day from 5 a.m. to 9:45 p.m., giving early risers and late-night cravers alike a reliable stop on Jamaica Avenue.
The redesign brings more than just fresh paint. An announcement from Ed Lewi and Associates describes a tap system featuring eight consistently cold beverages, including coffees, iced teas, cold brew coffee and nitro-infused cold brew coffee. The same announcement notes the store is designated a DD Green Achievement restaurant, designed to save 25% more energy compared to a standard Dunkin’ restaurant.
Free Coffee, Cheap Scoops, and a Prize Wheel
Reopening day came with the usual perks Dunkin’ fans expect. QNS reported that customers received a free medium hot or iced coffee and a donut throughout the morning, while the Ed Lewi announcement specified that all guests would receive a free medium hot or iced coffee and donut from noon to 2 p.m. — the two accounts differ on the exact timing of the giveaway.
Baskin-Robbins, for its part, was offering ice cream scoops for 31 cents, a nod to the 31 different flavors the brand offers, the station's report notes. Guests could also spin a prize wheel for free Dunkin’ merchandise while supplies lasted, per the Ed Lewi release.
A $3,000 Gift for the Viscardi Center
Dunkin’ franchisee Metro Franchising tied the reopening to a charitable gesture benefiting the Viscardi Center, though the two accounts describe its status differently. QNS reported that Metro Franchising, in conjunction with the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation, presented a $3,000 donation check to the Viscardi Center, while the Ed Lewi announcement said Metro Franchising would commemorate the occasion with a $3,000 donation to the center.
The Viscardi Center is described in the Ed Lewi release as a nonprofit organization that educates, employs, and empowers children, adults, and veterans with disabilities or similar needs. Lauren Marzo, the center's chief development officer, said the Henry Viscardi School is proud to receive support from Metro Franchising and Dunkin’, adding that the relationship with Dunkin’ spans well over a decade. That support, she said, has helped provide critical programs for Henry Viscardi School students with severe disabilities — programs meant to help students learn, grow and take steps toward an independent future.
Part of a Wider Pattern Across Queens and Long Island
The Woodhaven reopening fits a broader pattern of Dunkin’ remodels pairing community celebrations with Viscardi Center giving. A Briarwood Dunkin’ on Queens Boulevard held its own grand reopening on Oct. 16, also featuring a $3,000 donation to the Viscardi Center made in collaboration with the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation, according to QNS. A separate reopening at 168-04 Jamaica Ave. in January, meanwhile, paired with a $3,000 donation to Project Hope Charities instead, showing the franchise network spreads its Joy in Childhood Foundation giving across different causes.
Other recent reopenings echo the Woodhaven playbook almost beat for beat. A Bay Shore location's relaunch, detailed by Ed Lewi and Associates, included free coffee and donuts, 31-cent Baskin-Robbins scoops and a spin of the Dunkin’ prize wheel — that remodeled, 2,100-square-foot restaurant employs 20 crew members and runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Jamaica Avenue location from January, by comparison, spans 1,342 square feet with its own staff of 15.
