Bow Street Dunkin’ Donuts Firms Up Plans for New Location

The Dunkin’ Donuts branch at 1 Bow St is set to move to 1001 Massachusetts Ave. in early June. By Zorigoo Tugsbayar

After months of uncertainty about its future, the Dunkin’ Donuts at the corner of Massachusetts Avenue and Bow Street will finally move to a new location this summer.

The store, whose facade made an appearance in the 1997 film “Good Will Hunting,” will make the move from its current location at 1 Bow St. to its new location at 1001 Mass. Ave. in early June.

Franchise owner David G. Carvalho said that the Bow St. location will officially close on June 2, and the new location will open June 4.

The future of the coffee shop was uncertain for several months as it dealt first with possible closure, a reversal of those plans, and finally the decision to relocate after obtaining a short-term lease until a new tenant could take its place.

Carvalho assures that after the move, there will will be no new developments on the horizon.

“There are no foreseeable factors that could cause any delays at this time,” Carvalho wrote. “The Bow St. Dunkin’ Donuts will be relocating because an opportunity arose to open a brand-new restaurant with updated features for both new and existing customers just a couple blocks away from the original storefront.”

Among the new improvements Carvalho mentioned were soft seating, digital menu boards, a television, outside seating, and an updated and contemporary look and feel.

Although the proprietors have several improvements planned, they will have to forgo one feature of the current location. Unlike the Bow St. location, the new establishment will not have a Baskin Robbins.

Signs have been placed on the doors of the establishment notifying visitors of the change. Included on the sign are the locations of other Harvard Square Dunkin Donuts franchises, including in the Harvard Square MBTA Station and at 65 JFK Street.

Customers who were in the Bow St. establishment early this week were surprised by the news of the change.

Frequent patron Nicole McDonald bemoaned the change, saying that the new location, although still a Dunkin’ Donuts, would not have the same atmosphere.

McDonald noted that while the new store will be only a few blocks from Harvard Square at 1001 Mass. Ave., she will probably start patronizing another one closer to her.

Carvalho said that all the workers from the Bow St. location will be transferred to the new branch. He declined to comment on what would replace Dunkin’ Donuts at its former Bow St. location. The Baskin Robbins that occupies the space with Dunkin’ Donuts is also expected to move out.

—Staff writer Kamara A. Swaby can be reached at kamara.swaby@thecrimson.com. Follow her on Twitter @SwabyK.