EXCLUSIVE: Brookhaven Dunkin Donuts the Place to Be

In our continuing look at area businesses, today's Monday Movers piece profiles a local Dunkin Donuts store.

In 1950, Bill Rosenberg opened the first Dunkin' Donuts shop in Quincy, Massachusetts. Dunkin' Donuts, which licensed the first of many franchises in 1955, is the world's largest coffee and baked goods chain, serving more than 3 million customers per day. Dunkin' Donuts sells 52 varieties of donuts and more than a dozen coffee beverages as well as an array of bagels, breakfast sandwiches and other baked goods.

At the end of 2007, there were 7,988 Dunkin' Donuts stores worldwide, including 5,769 franchised restaurants in the United States and 2,219 international shops in 30 countries.

Wake up Atlanta, it’s time to drink the coffee!

This past Saturday, the Brookhaven Dunkin Donuts (4040 Peachtree Road Northeast, 404-869-9244) had its re-grand opening after closing for a brief period of time to remodel.

Carrie Podber, founder of echaincommunity.com and marketing director for GOATLANTA, spoke to owners Kabir and Shabnam Panjwani about the Brookhaven business.

GOATLANTA: Talk a little bit about your business, how long in Atlanta, etc.

KABIR/SHABNAM PANJWANI: Our family has been a Dunkin Donuts franchisee since 1983, with our first location in Chicago, followed by Florida and then Atlanta. In 2000 we bought six locations from downtown Atlanta to Buckhead and in 2002 purchased the Brookhaven location. At its height, we owned 17 Dunkin Donuts locations. In 2000 my daughter, Shabnam, began working with me at the Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, and Ponce locations and moved her way up to management. We are in the process of transferring ownership of the Brookhaven location to Shabnam while I focus on other family-run businesses.

GA: Despite the tough economic times, how is your business making a go of it?

KP/SP: We are in a recession proof business - everyone needs their coffee. Dunkin Donuts has managed to keep their prices competitive with both their coffee and food products throughout the years. The one thing that has remained consistent has been the quality of the food and service.

GA: What was the reasoning behind the remodeling and what kind of work, expenses, etc. did it involve?

KP/SP: Dunkin Donuts has a standard practice of remodeling their stores every 10 years. In keeping up with the times, and coffee shops becoming a common place to gather with ones laptops, we decided it was time to move forward with the remodel of the Brookhaven location. We encourage entrepreneurs and small business owners to gather at Dunkin Donuts for their business meetings and to have a home office environment. We welcome the students in the surrounding college areas, assuring parents their kids are in a safe place to get their school work done.

The cost to remodel the Brookhaven location was $650,000 and is equipped with a lounge area with a fireplace, more outlets than there are seats, a fantastic front porch, free wireless and the best coffee and donuts in the state.

GA: How can the Dunkin Donuts business serve as a gathering place for Atlanta residents?

KP/SP: We have already noticed a change with our regulars. We have our regular drive-thru crowd, those that we know as soon as they arrive at the speaker have started to park their cars. People are making use of both the inside and outside and we anticipate even more regulars as spring sets in.

GA: Where do you see your business a year from now?

KP/SP : We have expansion plans of more remodeled Dunkin Donuts to come, with Shabnam taking over the family business in its entirety.

Editor's Note: "Coffee with Carrie" will be filmed at the Brookhaven Dunkin Donuts. Stay tuned for launch date and details. In the meantime, if you are looking to make business connections in the Atlanta area, visit: www.echaincommunity.com .

EXCLUSIVE: At Grand Panama Beach Resort, Life is Good

As part of our new feature on GOATLANTA, in connection with our partnership with www.echaincommunity.com we will run a Q&A five days a week with a business. The idea behind these interviews is to acquaint our readers with area businesses and see how they are making a go of it in these challenging economic times.

In today's Thursday Travels visit, we talk with Dan Oliver, director of Operations for Grand Panama Resort. This company saw a world-class group of architects, contractors, and designers come together to create an upscale luxury community.....Grand Panama Beach Resort. Louis Breland is directing the operations of the developing company, BNP Investment Properties.

In 1976, Breland opened Breland Homes, a homebuilding company located in Baldwin County, Alabama. His practice of developing his own communities, as well as his vision for working with and developing around the natural surroundings of each piece of land, led him to become one of the leading homebuilders/developers in Mobile and Baldwin counties. Breland Properties was then formed to allow for expansion into commercial real estate, including self storage, restaurants, beach condominiums, office buildings, and retail centers.

In 1984, Breland moved to Huntsville and continued his vision by developing and building single family communities, including Heritage Woods and Mountain Brook. In the late 1990's, his building company was sold to a New York Stock Exchange company and Breland began to concentrate on his love for development, specializing in the development of large, master-planned communities such as Highland Lakes. He is now recognized as a leading land developer in North Alabama and his residential developments are in high demand by both local and national builders alike.

GOATLANTA: Talk a little bit about Grand Panama Beach Resort, how long it has been around, what area of the country you serve.

DAN OLIVER: Phase I of Grand Panama Beach Resort was completed June 29, 2007 and opened for business in July of 2007. Our Gulf Front High Rise, The Grand, houses 187 residential units. The Grand Vista is our Gulf View residential building and houses 112 units. Grand Panama offers Full Service on-site Rental Management, State of the Art Fitness Center, 2 Tropical Pools 2 Spas, 2 full service food and Tiki Bars, full service housekeeping, 24-hour security, around the clock maintenance and all levels of concierge services. The Village at Grand Panama is also onsite comprising of Bonefish Grill, Another Broken Egg Café, Papa John’s Pizza, a number of women’s and Men’s boutiques shops, Wine World, RBC Bank, Indulgence Spa and Salon. We also have Class A office Space available. Panama City Beach is currently a drive to market for the Southeast United States. Patrons visit us from as far north as Canada and Alaska. We have home to many returning Snowbirds each year. The New Panama City-Bay County International Airport is scheduled to open Spring 2010 AND will offer direct flights from many of the popular surrounding airports. There will also be direct flights from Toronto, Canada. This will definitely connect Panama City Beach to International travel options for visitors from abroad.

GA: Given the tough economic times, how has GPBR fared and what have you done to adjust to these challenges?

DO: Grand Panama has several advantages over other developments, including a premier central location less than 5 miles east of Simon Mall’s - Pier Park and only 15 miles from the New Panama City-Bay County International Airport. Grand Panama has more land for future growth, a financially strong developer, unprecedented service levels, upscale residential amenities- and convenient on-site shopping, dining, banking and Spa services. There has never been a better time to invest. We understand Quality of Life is a traveler’s first priority and during these hard economic times, our goal is to provide a level of service that far exceeds the cost of the stay.

GA: In general, what are some of the amenities/activities that people look for when deciding on a luxury lifestyle investment?

DO: Well ours of course…Grand Panama Beach Resort boasts some of the Emerald Coasts unrivaled amenities which include 2 Sparkling pools, 2 water spas, pool side tiki bars and BBQ areas, exercise room, business center with meeting room, covered secure parking, café, wine bar and ice cream shop, dinning and shopping on site at the Village of Grand Panama. Not to mention, we are second to none when it comes to treating our guests with that true Southern Hospitality.

GA: How does the Atlanta area currently rank for people wanting to relocate and buy at GPBR? Is your company active or plans to be in the area?

DO: Considering the 5.5 million people in greater Atlanta area all within a 6-hour drive, we feel as though it is our best market. We are just a tank of gas away from the white sugar sand beaches and the most beautiful sunsets the South has to offer. Grand Panama will continue to invest heavily in marketing Atlanta as our #1 drive from location of rental guest and potential owners by way of lifestyle publications, internet traffic, travel shows, World Trade Center events and social networking.

GA: Where do you see your business a year from now?

DO: With our area’s new International Airport scheduled to open in May of 2010, Panama City Beach is bound for growth once again. Also, the creation of the Foreign Trade Zone at the new airport will benefit the community and the region by facilitating and expediting International Trade, providing special customs procedures as a public service to help firms conduct business, encouraging and facilitating exports, attracting offshore activity, assisting state/local economic development efforts and creating employment opportunities. As for our project, we ask that you visit our web site at www.grandpanamabeachresort.com to view this wonderful community and please note the proposed 87,000 sq foot conference center! We are working on an additional $100,000,000 in amenities and attractions for Grand Panama, so there’s never been a better time to invest.