The last Dunkin’ Donuts diner in the world (who knew these even existed?) has been serving customers in the town of Lake Park since 1962, but the final day to try it is Sunday.
The full-service restaurant, located on Federal Highway, serves America’s favorite doughnuts and coffee alongside fried fish, grits and more. That will end soon, however, when the diner is transformed into a typical Dunkin’ Donuts store in August.
Franchisee Dan Bowers is closing the diner because the current restaurant isn’t equipped to offer all of the menu items that other Dunkin’ locations have, a representative for Dunkin’ Donuts South Florida said.
While the restaurant will cease operation after Sunday, the more traditional Dunkin’ Donuts portion of the restaurant will remain open until Aug. 16, at which point the location will undergo remodeling.
Dunkin’ Donuts opened several diners across the country in the ‘60s and ‘70s, according to Broward-Palm Beach New Times, and the Lake Park diner is thought to be the first Dunkin’ Donuts in Florida.
Bowers has owned the decades-old Dunkin’ Donuts diner for eight years. It was included in a group of restaurants he purchased at the time. All together, he owns 10 Dunkin’ Donuts locations throughout Palm Beach County.
While a representative of the diner said the upgraded Dunkin’ will be newer, brighter, and more modern, there are plans to preserve original elements of the diner—such as the layout of the dining room—that will give a “nod to the past.”
“Some people may be sad that the actual diner piece is going away, but they’re still going to be able to sit at the front counter and get a cup of coffee in a ceramic mug,” the rep said. “[Bowers] wants to keep it a neighborhood gathering place.”
The revamped Dunkin’ Donuts is scheduled to reopen on Aug. 31. A grand opening celebration for the public soon will be scheduled soon afterward.
Dunkin’ Donuts diner; 301 Federal Highway, Lake Park
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