Beloved coffee chain and Starbucks nemesis Dunkin' Donuts has been dominating the news game lately between their crazy new breakfast sandwiches and lack of response to this petition. (Seriously, DD, we're waiting.) But how much do we really know about this monolith of coffee, pastries, and inexplicably intense Boston pride? To find out, Thrillist mounted an investigation into the six-decade history of this company, and uncovered more sex stings than you'd expect. For all the glazed and powdered action you can handle, keep on scrolling.
When founder William Rosenberg opened his first donut shop in Quincy, Massachusetts in 1948, it was originally named Open Kettle. Two years later, "Dunkin' Donuts" was officially born. Here's a photo of the flagship store from back in the day.
That Rosenberg was a hustler, too. As a teenager, he once carted a block of ice to the racetrack on a scorching Summer day to sell ice chips for 10 cents apiece. Of course, this was during the Great Depression, but he still made $171, and $171 back then could buy you nearly all of central Canada.*
*not entirely true
Before they got their latest mascots Cuppy and Sprinkles (which we'd assume are also the names of two very small, very nervous dogs belonging to a Kardashian), Dunkin' was repped by this fella named Dunkie. He even got a disastrous Mr. Potato Head created in his honor.
Back in the late '70s and into '80s, DD used to sell so-called Easter egg donuts. They were chocolate-covered, sprinkled, egg-shaped donuts that came in their very own carton. The best part? They tasted way less vinegary than your actual Easter eggs. Also, you could get a dozen for $1.99. Also, THEY'RE EASTER EGG DONUTS!
In 1977, Dunkin' pissed off the Quebec agriculture ministry (dibs on that band name!) when they refused to put French inscriptions on their bags and boxes. The French-Canadians responded by seizing and destroying over 15,000 containers from six DD stores in the area. Mon Dieu!
At the end of 2012, there were 10,500 Dunkin' Donuts stores worldwide, which includes over 7,000 franchised restaurants in 36 states and more than 3,000 international locations in 30 countries. And that's without Easter Egg donuts!
Dunkin' became a pioneer in its early days when it bucked the trend of selling only four varieties of donuts and instead offered 52 kinds, earning it a spot in the Freedom Fighter Hall of Fame.
Actor Michael Vale was best known as Fred the Baker (of "time to make the donuts" fame), but he did have a few other acting credits to his name. Just watch him haggle with Nazi dentist Laurence Olivier in Marathon Man like a pro, starting at 1:28.